Wout van Aert narrowly missed out on another victory in stage 14 of the Vuelta a España, finishing second to Kaden Groves. Despite the disappointment of not clinching his fourth stage win, van Aert continues to hold onto both the points and mountains jerseys, showcasing his impressive form in the race.
During the final stretch in Villablino, van Aert was outpaced by Groves, an Australian cyclist recognized for his sprinting prowess. This close call was a bitter pill for van Aert and his Visma-Lease a Bike team, who had spent the day carefully reeling in a strong breakaway to set up van Aert for the win.
Reflecting on the race afterward, van Aert managed to find humor in the situation, despite his frustration. When a reporter asked if the day felt like a case of “the surgery went well but the patient died,” van Aert chuckled and admitted it was a new saying for him, but one that fit the day’s events well.
The stage had begun with high expectations for van Aert and his team. Visma-Lease a Bike had calculated that van Aert’s climbing abilities would be enough to conquer the category 1 ascent of Puerto de Leitariegos, and they set a strategy around this. The team, wearing their signature yellow and black, kept the breakaway within reach all day and increased the pace on the climb to discourage potential attacks.
Cian Uijtdebroeks, van Aert’s Belgian teammate, who played a crucial role in controlling the race, stated that the plan was solid, given van Aert’s strength on the climbs. Robert Gesink, a veteran cyclist competing in his final race, also played a key part in keeping the breakaway close.
However, despite their best efforts, the tempo set by Visma-Lease a Bike was not enough to drop key sprinters, including Groves, from the pack. Entering the final sprint with confidence, van Aert had already secured three stage wins in this Vuelta, but in the end, Groves proved to be just slightly stronger, taking the win in the final 50 meters.
Van Aert expressed his disappointment, particularly considering the team’s collective effort. “Missing out on the win is tough, especially after the teamwork we showed,” he admitted. He had anticipated that the final climb would be more challenging, which would have played to his strengths, but the climb turned out to be less steep, allowing sprinters to stay in the mix.
Nevertheless, van Aert continues to lead the points and mountains classifications, underscoring his all-around strength and consistent performance. He dismissed concerns that focusing on these classifications might have dulled his sprinting edge, pointing out that Groves had also endured a tough day in the breakaway just before.
As the Vuelta progresses, van Aert remains focused on the upcoming stages, especially stage 17 to Santander, where he sees another chance for victory. By that time, he might have already secured the points classification. For now, van Aert’s thoughts remain on the stage he narrowly missed, and the slim margin that separated him from another win.
In Belgium, there has been some debate about van Aert’s pursuit of the king of the mountains jersey, with former national coach José De Cauwer suggesting he conserve his energy for the upcoming European and world road titles. However, van Aert is determined to make the most of his current form, especially after a season disrupted by a crash that affected his Classics campaign.
Looking ahead, van Aert is weighing his options for the remaining stages of the Vuelta, particularly as he feels the fatigue from a grueling week of racing. Still, he remains undeterred, continuing to lead the mountains classification and aiming for more victories before the race ends.
4o
