ANALYSIS | Wout van Aert crashes out of the Vuelta: What it means for his season

In an unfortunate turn of events, Wout van Aert has crashed for the second time on Stage 16 of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, forcing him to abandon the race. The Belgian star from Team Visma | Lease a Bike had been in phenomenal form, however, his hopes of another stage win came crashing down on a wet and treacherous descent.

Let’s take a look at what happened, and how this unfortunate crash will affect Van Aert’s season, and the remaining stages of the Vuelta.

Earlier in the stage, Van Aert had shown incredible resilience, bouncing back from his first crash to rejoin the day's breakaway. His determination was rewarded, as he took maximum points on each of the first two categorized climbs, showcasing his ability to excel on various terrains. Prior to his crash, Van Aert was leading both the points and mountains classifications simultaneously, a rare accomplishment in the world of professional cycling.

Typically, these jerseys are won by riders with completely different skill sets—sprinters dominate the points classification, while pure climbers vie for the mountain’s jersey. For Van Aert to be in contention for both underscored his versatility and talent.

However, disaster struck on a wet and slippery descent. In the middle of a fierce battle for stage success, Van Aert crashed hard into a roadside gutter, along with Engelhardt and del Toro. While the other two riders managed to continue after their falls, it was immediately clear that Van Aert was in serious trouble. The Belgian hero got back on his bike, but it became evident that he could not continue. The television cameras showed a nasty cut on his knee, and the grimace on Van Aert’s face indicated he was in considerable distress. Unable to push forward, he was forced to abandon the race.

Van Aert’s crash could have significant implications for his chances at the 2024 World Championships, where he was expected to be one of the main contenders for the gold medal. Van Aert secured a silver medal in the 2023 World Championships and was looking to go one step further this year in Zurich. However, given the severity of his injury, his participation now hangs in the balance. If his recovery is slow, the likes of Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel, and Remco Evenepoel will face one less major rival in their quest for the rainbow jersey.

Before his crash, Van Aert was in an enviable position in the mountain’s classification, having taken maximum points on the early climbs of Stage 16. However, with his withdrawal, Jay Vine of UAE Team Emirates now takes over the lead in the mountain’s classification. Vine’s resurgence in this competition is particularly notable, as the Australian has had a tough year himself, suffering vertebrae fractures in a crash that also injured Jonas Vingegaard in the Basque Country. Vine will now be the rider to watch in the remaining mountain stages, as he seeks to consolidate his position.

Van Aert also looked set to claim the green jersey in the points classification, having been the dominant force in this competition for much of the race. However, his crash has opened the door for Alpecin's Kaden Groves, who has been Van Aert’s closest rival throughout the Vuelta. With Van Aert out, Groves takes over the green jersey, and given his sprinting prowess, he’s a worthy wearer of the prestigious points jersey. Groves will now look to defend the green jersey in the remaining stages, as Van Aert’s unfortunate exit leaves the Australian in pole position to claim victory in the competition.