Wout van Aert reveals unexpected Vuelta target: ‘I have a slightly bigger chance’

Brennan sprinted to his fifth stage win of his remarkable Grand Tour debut on stage 17, beating Jordi Meeus and Magnus Cort after another carefully managed finale by Visma | Lease a Bike.

Van Aert was again involved in putting his younger teammate into position, although he was quick to shift the credit elsewhere afterwards.

“I’d say a rather small role,” Van Aert told Eurosport with a laugh. “It was especially my teammates bringing back the front group, which cost quite some energy in the end. But they managed it well.”

Van Aert took responsibility in the final five kilometres, responding to a late move before deciding against attempting a conventional leadout for Brennan.

“I didn’t feel great anymore to do a proper leadout,” he explained.

With Uno-X Mobility driving the pace at the front for Cort, Van Aert instead chose to use their work. He moved Brennan through the bunch and delivered him onto Cort’s wheel inside the final 500 metres.

“I thought it was better to bring Matthew [Brennan] in a good position towards the front than try to lead him out and be too slow,” Van Aert said.

Brennan did the rest emphatically, coming off Cort’s wheel to secure another victory in what has developed into an extraordinary Vuelta for both the British sprinter and Visma.

For Van Aert, the run of stage wins has also changed the mood inside a team whose race did not unfold entirely as planned in the general classification.

“The atmosphere in the team is incredible,” he said.

“In a way we also hoped to be even better in GC with Sepp or maybe the young guys. But in another way, because they are out of GC, we could completely focus on what we’re here for, to win stages and to have everybody on board to go for it day after day.

“It’s just an amazing feeling and it’s motivating for each other.”

That freedom is now giving Van Aert licence to chase another result himself.

The 32.5 kilometre time trial to Jerez de la Frontera on stage 18 was not initially a major target for him, but Van Aert confirmed after the finish in Seville that he intends to take his chance.

“It’s an opportunity I was not really thinking before this race that I would go for,” he said. “But I’m happy to give it a try tomorrow.”

Several factors have altered his thinking.

Van Aert acknowledged that his hopes in the mountains have become more limited, particularly with Santiago Buitrago showing strong form in the battle for the mountains classification. With two demanding mountain stages still to follow the time trial, the Belgian believes it makes sense to concentrate his energy where the opportunity appears greatest.

“I think also the mountain jersey will be pretty difficult with the shape Buitrago is showing,” Van Aert said.

“The two days after with the mountains will be maybe less interesting for me. Try to maximise the chances where they are.”

There is another reason for his optimism. With several recognised time trial specialists like Vine, Pogačar and Tarling no longer in the race, Van Aert sees a more open contest than he might have expected at the start of the Vuelta.

“With a few specialists out of the race already, I think I have a slightly bigger chance.”

After helping Brennan collect yet another victory in Seville, Van Aert will now find out whether Visma’s remarkable Vuelta can produce another winner on the road to Jerez.