On the decisive climb of the day, the Alto del 14%, Van Aert skillfully stayed with all the top riders in the general classification. Alongside teammate Kuss, the green jersey holder was well-represented in the group of favorites. At the summit, Kuss grabbed some bonus seconds behind Primoz Roglic, after which Team Visma | Lease a Bike focused solely on securing the stage win.

The now-escaped Marc Soler had been around twenty seconds ahead of the elite group. Reigning Vuelta champion Kuss did not hesitate and immediately took the lead of the group. The American, one of the lightweights in the peloton at sixty kilograms, gradually reduced the Spaniard’s lead.

With Van Aert in his wheel, Kuss managed to catch Soler about three kilometers from the finish. After several desperate attempts by riders with ambitions came to nothing, Van Aert knew what needed to be done. The Belgian launched his sprint early and, after a long, powerful effort, raised his hands in the air for the second time in this Vuelta. Thus, Van Aert personally secured the 29th victory of the season for Team Visma | Lease a Bike.

“I was thrilled riding in Sepp’s wheel,” Van Aert admitted afterward. “I was determined to finish it off. I have to thank Sepp more than anyone for his incredible work at the front. I don’t think people can appreciate how difficult it is for someone weighing sixty kilograms to close such a gap. At Team Visma | Lease a Bike, it’s not just about winning, but riding as a close-knit team is highly valued. A crucial part of that is everyone sacrificing for each other when needed. The reigning Vuelta champion sacrificing himself for me today is a perfect example of our philosophy. The team was fantastic today.”

Kuss also expressed that the victory feels like a true team win. “We had this stage in mind for a while, but we knew it would be challenging due to the climb in the finale. When I saw that the group was still very small and Wout was still there, I knew he was having a good day. I took the lead and tried to keep everyone together. That wasn’t easy. It was a struggle to catch Soler, but it was more than worth it. I was worried that more attacks might come. I made a small mistake by slowing down a bit and asking others to take over, but in such a small group, there will always be attacks. Fortunately, Wout was smart and sharp enough, and his instincts didn’t fail him. He was particularly strong today and crowned our excellent team effort,” concluded Kuss.