Van Aert wins Vuelta stage amid scorching heat in southern Spain

LOJA, Spain (AP) — Wout van Aert secured his fourth career stage victory at the Vuelta a Espana on Friday, overcoming intense heat as he defeated Valentin Paret-Peintre in a grueling 192-kilometer stage from Almuñécar to Loja. The Belgian cyclist completed the challenging 119-mile route in just under 4.5 hours, marking his first win of the 2024 edition.

This triumph adds to his impressive career record, including 10 Tour de France stage wins and multiple one-day classics. Meanwhile, Enric Mas maintained his overall lead, boasting a 1-minute and 45-second advantage over four-time previous champion Primož Roglič. As temperatures soared to 36 degrees Celsius (97°F) in Loja, riders struggled with the extreme heat and pushed themselves to the limit.

Mas's victory keeps him on track to become the first Spanish rider to win the Vuelta in its home country since Alberto Contador in 2014.