Van Aert Wins Scorching Vuelta Stage as Mas Keeps Red Jersey

Wout van Aert won stage 13 of the Vuelta a España on Friday, beating fellow breakaway rider Valentin Paret-Peintre at the end of a punishing day in southern Spain. Associated Press reported that the Belgian completed the hilly 192-kilometre route from Almuñécar to Loja after roughly four and a half hours of racing.

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The victory was Van Aert's first at this edition of the Vuelta and the fourth Spanish Grand Tour stage win of his career. He previously collected three stages in 2024. The result also delivered a fourth stage victory in the 2026 race for Team Visma-Lease a Bike.

Extreme heat shaped the day, with temperatures reaching 36C at the finish in Loja. American Visma-Lease a Bike rider Sepp Kuss told Spanish broadcaster RTVE that the combination of heat and a hard pace made attacking costly. He also credited organisers with adding extra points where riders could collect water.

Behind the winning break, Enric Mas retained the red leader's jersey. The Movistar rider kept his advantage of one minute and 45 seconds over four-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic. The two general-classification contenders crossed the line in a group around three minutes after Van Aert.

Mas has led the race since Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar withdrew following a crash last Saturday, according to the AP report. The Spaniard has finished runner-up at the Vuelta three times, in 2018, 2021 and 2022. He is seeking to become the first home rider to win the event since Alberto Contador in 2014.

The race continues Saturday with a 154-kilometre stage from Jaén to Sierra de la Pandera. Mas said the immediate objective was to preserve the red jersey for another day. The three-week race, which is being staged entirely in southern Spain this year, is scheduled to finish near Granada on September 13.