Wout van Aert triumphs in stage 13 of Vuelta a España despite extreme heat

Wout van Aert claimed his fourth career stage victory at the Vuelta a España on Friday under extreme heat conditions, while Enric Mas retained the red jersey.

In the hot, sunny southern Spanish weather, Van Aert outsprinted breakaway companion Valentin Paret-Peintre to win the undulating 192km route from Almuñécar to Loja. The Belgian finished after four and a half hours of racing. This was Van Aert's first victory in the current race, following his three stage wins in 2024. The win added to a substantial record that includes 10 Tour de France stage victories and multiple one-day classic wins. It was also the fourth stage win for Team Visma Lease a Bike in this edition.

Mas, the Movistar leader, held his lead of one minute 45 seconds over four-time champion Primoz Roglic. They crossed the finish line in a group approximately three minutes behind Van Aert.

Competitors faced significant heat, with temperatures reaching 36C (97F) in Loja at the finish. One rider described the conditions as having a "hairdryer blowing in your face." Another reported dousing himself with water at every chance.

"It was a very tough stage because of the heat and the hard pace," American rider Sepp Kuss of Visma Lease a Bike told broadcaster RTVE in Spanish. "If you tried to attack, you just cracked. But we all had to compete in the same conditions. I must also thank the organisers for adding extra spots where we could grab water. If not, it would have been impossible."

Mas has held the race lead since Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar abandoned following a crash last Saturday. Mas has finished the Vuelta as runner-up three times, in 2018, 2021 and 2022. He is attempting to become the first Spanish rider to win the home race since Alberto Contador in 2014. His success may depend on building enough of a lead to withstand Roglič in the stage 18 time trial.

Friday's stage 13 took place south of Granada, where the three-week race will conclude on 13 September. On Saturday, competitors face a 154km (95m) stage from Jaén to Sierra de la Pandera. "Our goal tomorrow is just keeping the red shirt for the next day," Mas said.

This year's Vuelta is held entirely in southern Spain, omitting the classic mountain finishes in the greener north.

Olav Kooij edged out Tim Merlier in a chaotic sprint to win stage three of the Tour of Britain in Beverley. Kooij began his charge from deep in the pack, but with Thursday's stage winner Merlier boxed in, the Dutchman found space on the left and, by the time he accelerated, Merlier could not respond.

It was Kooij's eighth career stage win at this race, placing him second in the Tour of Britain's record books alongside Edvald Boasson Hagen, two behind the all-time record held by Sir Mark Cavendish.

Following a second consecutive sprint finish to conclude the 181km stage from Hull, stage one winner Lewis Askey maintains the overall lead. Askey leads Tim Wellens by 12 seconds, with Matteo Trentin a further seven seconds back in third.