World · Singapore Bureau
Van Aert claims maiden Vuelta stage victory in thrilling stage 13 finish
Belgian sprinter Wout van Aert of Visma-Lease a Bike secured his first stage win at this year's Vuelta a Espana on Friday, edging out Valentin Paret-Peintre in a closely contested two-rider battle to the line. Juan Ayuso's Mas maintained his grip on the red jersey heading into the race's second week.
LSN Singapore ·
Van Aert's breakthrough came during stage 13 of Spain's three-week Grand Tour, where the powerful Belgian rider demonstrated superior finishing speed to claim victory ahead of Paret-Peintre. The Visma-Lease a Bike team member's win marks a significant milestone in his campaign at the 2024 Vuelta.
The stage victory underscores van Aert's credentials as a multi-talented cyclist capable of competing across different race formats. His triumph came as the peloton navigated a challenging route through Spain's varied terrain, with several notable riders vying for stage honours throughout the day's racing.
Mas continued his commanding position in the general classification, preserving the symbolic red jersey that denotes the race leader. The Spanish rider's consistent performance has allowed him to maintain his advantage over his closest rivals as the Vuelta approaches its critical middle stages.
The race will resume with stage 14, as teams and individual competitors continue their battle for position ahead of the traditionally decisive mountain stages later in the three-week competition.