Visma’s Hot Start at La Vuelta

The final Grand Tour of 2024 is here, and La Vuelta a España is off to a typically chaotic and fiery start. With record-breaking heat and unfortunately-timed crashes disrupting the smooth first week defending champion Sepp Kuss had hoped for, his teammate Wout Van Aert rose to the occasion with a series of dominant performances.

After finishing third in the opening time trial, Wout was second in Stage 2’s sprint and donned the red jersey of General Classification race leader. On Stage 3, the Belgian went one place better and delivered his first victory since the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne semi-classic. A mountainous stage 4 saw Wout trade the red GC Leader’s jersey for the green jersey of the Points Competition.



Visma has a motto of “samen winnen”: together we win. Stage 7 saw a selfless display of this ethos of teamwork, as designated GC leader Sepp Kuss chased down several attacks in the final kilometers of the race, enabling another beautiful sprint win by Wout.

As the second week of three began, Wout showed that he isn’t content to conservatively defend his green points jersey. Instead, he infiltrated the day’s breakaway, dropping all save one competitor on the final climb, who he handily beat in the sprint. 3 stage wins, 2 days in the Leader’s jersey, and a commanding lead in the Points competition - it’s been an inspiring start to la Vuelta for Visma.