MADRID, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease-A-Bike) won the 13th stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycle race on Friday after excellent collaboration with his team-mate Matthew Brennan and a powerful final sprint.
The 192 kilometers between Almunecar and Loja which is sandwiched between mountain stages, was always likely to see a big breakaway as the overall favorites tried to conserve their strength on a day of searing temperatures of almost 40 degrees centigrade.
The race ended with a group of nine riders including Visma-Lease-a Bike duo Van Aert and Brennan, with around a minute clear of a second group.
Van Aert attacked with 3.6 kilometers left on the stage with only Valentin Parret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) the only rider able to go with him.
Brennan also showed his form by finishing third.
Saturday sees another mountain stage with a finish at altitude after 182 kilometers between Jaen and Sierra de la Pandera, with temperatures again expected to be around 40 degrees to present an extra challenge for the riders. ■
