Bold van Aert shows his strength in another Vuelta triumph

Wout van Aert’s attack looked reckless. At the finish in Córdoba, it looked inspired.

The Belgian Visma star launched his move at a bonus sprint on Sunday’s 15th stage and then absorbed attacks from every side of the five-rider breakaway. When Thibau Nys opened the sprint 300 meters from the line, van Aert waited on his wheel before powering past over the final 100 meters to claim his second stage win of this year’s Vuelta a España.

The riders reached Córdoba after covering 110 hilly kilometers from Palma del Río. Organizers cut 80 kilometers from the planned route because of warnings that temperatures in and around the finish could reach 40 degrees. The shorter course created an opportunity for breakaway riders.

Danish rider Frederik Wandahl was among the early escapees, joining 11 others. Visma controlled the gap in the peloton to give van Aert or Matthew Brennan a chance in a reduced sprint. Two category-three climbs were expected to distance the heavier sprinters.

Wandahl was caught on the final climb, while Andreas Leknesund and Ramses Debruyne remained ahead. Van Aert then attacked on a hill and brought Alessandro Romele and Thibau Nys with him, turning the front group into five riders. Visma stopped driving the peloton, and no team took responsibility for the chase. The pursuit came too late.

The five riders reached Córdoba with the general-classification group two minutes behind and still together. Over the final four kilometers, van Aert’s four companions attacked him in turn, but he closed every move. Enric Mas remained in the overall lead, ahead of Felix Gall and Primoz Roglic.