Wout van Aert Wins Stage 3 of Vuelta a España

Wout Van Aert secured victory in Stage 3 of the 2024 Vuelta a España, marking his first win since February. The Belgian cyclist, representing Visma | Lease a Bike, triumphed in a tightly contested sprint against Kaden Groves, finishing the 191.2-kilometer stage from Lousa to Castelo Branco in 4 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds. With this win, Van Aert extended his lead in the general classification to 13 seconds over Brandon McNulty, becoming the first rider other than Tadej Pogacar to hold the leader's jersey for more than one day in 2024. Van Aert expressed his joy in finally winning again and acknowledged the strong support from his team. As the Vuelta transitions into the mountains, he anticipates taking a supporting role for teammate Sepp Kuss, the defending champion. The race now heads into Spain for the next phase of competition.