The twisting switchbacks on the descent from Collada Llomena were wet and treacherous. Everyone knows that rain and Spanish asphalt don’t mix well, especially when conditions fluctuate between wet and dry and you can never tell exactly where the dangerous, slippery sections are. During stage 16 of the Vuelta a España, Felix Engelhardt of Team Jayco-Alula carefully led the breakaway down the other side of the first-category climb, closely followed by Wout van Aert of Visma-Lease a Bike and Issac Del Toro of UAE Team Emirates. Despite Engelhardt’s hesitation in braking and cornering on that gloomy afternoon in northwest Spain, there was a certain risk in the air.
The crash came in a harmless right-hand bend when the German rider’s rear wheel slipped out from under him. He fell first, the right side of his body scraping the asphalt and leaving shredded pieces of Lycra in his wake. Then it was Van Aert’s turn. The Belgian is known as a brilliant cyclist, but Engelhardt’s fall had ruined his line and he had no choice but to brake on the bend. What followed was a somersault into the rocky shoulder of the road. Van Aert was bloodied and bruised when he picked up his bike and shook his head.
The 29-year-old quickly remounted, almost as if he wanted to ignore the brutal reality of the gaping wound on his arm and the hole in his right knee. He was determined to keep riding, and that’s no surprise given his season so far. Crashes and injuries have plagued Van Aert since the Classics in March, and it took him some time to get back to his best. This Vuelta finally looked like things were getting back on track for the Belgian. He won again. He did crazy things on his bike. He was once again the Wout van Aert we all know.
Three stage wins and three second places in stages with such varied terrain in a Grand Tour is something most cyclists don’t manage. Van Aert can win in the mountains and in bunch sprints and everything in between. Nothing shows this better than the fact that the Visma-Lease a Bike rider was leading both the mountains and the points classification before his crash – an enigmatic phenomenon that only Van Aert can boast. His offensive, aggressive racing style and will to win have done the race proud over the last two and a half weeks. But now, with just five stages to go, it all came to a sudden, painful end on a rainy road in Asturias.
Despite his valiant attempts to carry on, it was immediately clear when Van Aert attempted to pedal his Cervélo bike that continuing was not an option. His right leg failed him and he was forced to pull over to the side of the road, heartbroken and consoled by his team staff. A race he gave so much to should not end like this.
It’s fair to say that the Vuelta a España will feel Van Aert’s absence in these final days. He has provided excellent entertainment so far, winning the bunch sprint and the leader’s jersey on stage two, then again on stage seven, before completely flipping the script and winning from the breakaway on stage ten. He had the points classification all but in the bag before stage 16 to Lagos de Covadonga, but he still managed to get into the breakaway and used risky and innovative tactics to ensure he could also win the mountains jersey. That’s Van Aert – a pure racer with a zeal to win whatever he can, wherever he can. Despite his glittering career so far, the Visma-Lease a Bike man has given everything to the Vuelta, and it’s precisely for this reason that Van Aert’s abandonment on stage 16 after his crash feels like an unjustified, unfortunate conclusion..
If Van Aert’s sporting career has taught us anything, however, it is his ability to bounce back after setbacks. Once his injuries are assessed and the damage is assessed, he will be hungry to win again. Whether that will be this season or next is yet to be determined, but either way, his performances at this Vuelta should be respected and remembered. The last two weeks would not have been nearly as entertaining without Wout van Aert in the race – he showed his trademark versatility and was a joy to watch.
