Three days into his first participation in La Vuelta, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) has already left a spectacular mark on the Spanish Grand Tour with a powerful stage win in Castelo Branco, with La Roja on his shoulders. Third on the opening ITT, 2nd yesterday, the Belgian star got the better of Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Jon Aberasturi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) this time. He has now claimed ten stage wins in Grand Tours, after he already got nine in the Tour de France. After three days in Portugal, La Vuelta now faces the Spanish mountains with a gruelling stage 4 headed to Pico Villuercas.
After Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) took victory in Ourém and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) claimed La Roja, the peloton face another rolling stage on Portuguese roads, with 191.2km to cover and 2,471m of elevation to overcome between Lousã and Castelo Branco. And sprint teams are determined to ensure another bunch gallop at the end of stage 3 of La Vuelta 24.
First battles
Already at the front on day 2, Ibon Ruiz (Kern Pharma) and Luis Angel Maté (Euskaltel-Euskadi) attack again from the gun. This time, Unai Iribar (Kern Pharma) is with them. And Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel-Euskadi) quickly follows this move.
Some 30 kilometers into the stage, Kasper Asgreen (T-Rex Quick-Step), Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) and Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) also try to get away from the bunch but the sprint teams quickly react.
Van Aert means power
The gap reaches 5’20’’ (km 40) before Alpecin-Deceuninck collaborate with Visma-Lease a Bike to control the day. At the front, Maté goes first atop the cat-2 Alto de Teixeira (km 84) to all but secure the polka-dot jersey.
Maté also goes first atop the cat-4 Alto de Alpedrinha (km 148.6). By that point, with 442.6km to go, the peloton only trail by 1 minute. Isasa attacks on the following downhill. He is the last breakaway rider to be caught by the bunch, with 20km to go.
The intensity increases drastically towards Castelo Branco. Alpecin-Deceuninck try to control the situation. Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) attacks just before the last kilometre… And Van Aert eventually powers to a stunning win!
