Vuelta, third attempt is the good one for Wout van Aert

Wout van Aert wins the third stage of the Vuelta

After finishing third in Saturday’s time trial and second in Sunday’s sprint, Wout van Aert managed to arrive at the finish line arms in the sky in the third stage of the Vuelta a España 2024, taking the victory in the last Portuguese stage of the stage race, 182 km from Lousã to Castelo Branco, before the trespassing in Spain scheduled for Tuesday.

The Belgian rider from Team Visma-Lease a Bike anticipated, at the finish, Australian Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck, winner of Sunday’s stage) and Basque Jon Aberasturi Izaga (Euskaltel-Euskadi). First of the Italians at the finish è was Lorenzo Rota (Intermarché-Wanty), who finished in 13th place after the final sprint.

Van Aert not only confirmed himself in the red jersey, but thanks to the bonus increased his gap over the second in the overall standings, American Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates), bringing it to 13". In third place, however, is Czech Mathias Vacek, at 15", the best Under 26 of the lot (and, therefore, white jersey).

The best Italian remains Edoardo Affini, Van Aert’s teammate, who is in fifth place, 21" behind the leader of the ranking. On Tuesday, Aug. 20, the race arrives in Spain, where it will remain without further trespassing until the end: the 167-kilometer stage from Plasencia to Pico Villuercas, a mountain stage, could give a first real shakeup to the overall classification.