Wout van Aert wins stage of the Vuelta while Enric Mas maintains the lead

Wout van Aert won a day without respite for the stage hunters of this Vuelta that continues to be commanded with authority by Enric Mas. Movistar, the leader's team, in the day ending in Loja, preferred to reserve energy and give prominence to the riders and escape specialists. The triumph of the Belgian classicomaniac gives added value to the race.

The adventurers, those who like to pedal without company, endured a day of transition, with the La Pandera mountain range on the horizon. From the starting flag, in Almuñécar (Carlos Rodríguez's birthplace), there was nervousness. Numerous escape attempts fractured the peloton. Among the restless were Van Aert and Buitrago, fighting every day over the Mountain classification. Riders with options in the general classification also sneaked in: Skjelmose and Riccitello, Felix Gall's teammate. During the stage, the Austrian lost Mühlberger, one of the best teammates, due to a fall. Sivakov also left.

Ahead were, among others, the Spanish Cristian Rodríguez (Astana), the American Kevin Vermaeke (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), the British Matthew Brennan (Visma), the Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal) and the Norwegian Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X).

In a ride hit by 41º temperatures, Brennan (the fastest and winner of three stages) was hyperactive: closing gaps, jumping, neutralizing rivals... A priceless task that allowed Van Aert to leave with Paret-Peintre with two kilometers to go. The little Frenchman, a good climber, could barely put up a fight against the power of the last winner of Paris-Roubaix.

Enric Mas' group showed up in Loja three minutes late. A very different story from what will happen this Saturday.