Vuelta Stage Victory
Wout van Aert secures his first Vuelta stage win amidst punishing heat.
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Van Aert said his attack was deliberately timed for the final uphill “kicker” into the village, when the other breakaway riders would be less willing to organize a chase: “If you're able to open up a gap, then they ... don't want to close it for each other anymore.”
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Van Aert credited his family and team for the victory, saying his family told him to win and that Visma-Lease a Bike “played our position well” throughout the stage.
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Sepp Kuss described the conditions as exceptionally difficult, saying riders who tried to attack “just cracked” in the heat and praising organizers for adding extra water stations.
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Enric Mas is seeking to become the first Spanish rider to win the Vuelta since Alberto Contador in 2014; his lead may be especially important ahead of the Stage 18 time trial, where Primož Roglič could challenge him.
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The race’s next stage was scheduled to take the peloton 154.5 kilometers from Jaén to La Pandera for a difficult mountain stage.
Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert won Stage 13 of the Vuelta a España on a scorching day in southern Spain, attacking 3.7 kilometers from the finish to beat Valentin Paret-Peintre in a two-man sprint. BBC reported that Van Aert emerged from a massive breakaway of 43 riders on the 192-kilometer route from Almuñécar to Loja, with Matthew Brennan taking third place.
Temperatures soared to 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) as riders climbed a hilly course at a relentless pace. NBC Sports noted Van Aert clocked 4½ hours to complete the stage. This was his fourth career Vuelta stage win and first of 2026. Enric Mas held the red jersey, leading Primož Roglič by 1 minute and 45 seconds.
Van Aert Timed His Attack for the Final Climb
Van Aert saved his energy for the uphill push into Loja. He explained his tactic: "If you're able to open up a gap, then they don't want to close it for each other anymore." The breakaway riders refused to chase each other on the steep section, giving Van Aert the room he needed to gap Paret-Peintre and hold the advantage to the finish.
The Belgian credited his team and family for the victory. Visma-Lease a Bike, his squad, "played our position well," he said. His family had pushed him to win, adding extra motivation on a brutal day in the Spanish heat.
Extreme Heat Forced Many Riders to Abandon Their Chances
The 36-degree conditions wore down nearly every rider on the course. Sepp Kuss, a fellow competitor, said riders who tried to attack "just cracked" under the punishing sun. Race organizers added extra water stations to keep cyclists safe during the stage.
The grueling weather made every attack harder to sustain and forced the peloton to accept a grinding pace. Few breakaway members could muster the strength to chase Van Aert's late move, leaving the door wide open for his decisive finish.
Mas Eyes Historic Win Ahead of Time Trial Showdown
Enric Mas is chasing history as he leads the Vuelta. No Spanish rider has won since Alberto Contador in 2014. With his 1-minute 45-second cushion over Roglič, Mas holds a slim but crucial advantage heading into Stage 18.
Stage 18 is a time trial—a race-against-the-clock format where Roglič, a strong individual time trialist, could claw back time. Mas must protect his lead or extend it on the mountain stages before that showdown. The 154.5-kilometer mountain stage to La Pandera comes next, offering an early chance to separate from his rivals.
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