"I can’t say now that it’s not a goal when I’ve pulled myself apart for the points" - Wout Van Aert aims for polka dot victory next to his points classification lead

Adding to his points clasification lead, Wout Van Aert now also seizes control in the King of Mountains classification after having added 14 points to his tally in the thirteenth stage of Vuelta a Espana on top of finishing 5th on the very steep final climb.

The Visma | Lease a Bike didn't really have his eyes set on joining today's breakaway, however he couldn't let his main opponent in Green jersey competition slip away for free 20 points just like that. "Initially, it wasn't really the intention to join the early breakaway," Van Aert opened up at VTM afterwards. "But Kaden Groves joined us and I didn't want to let him take 20 points in the points classification for free."

Once he was off the front, Van Aert realized that he could easily grab a lead also in mountains classification: "I was in the breakaway and felt that I had good legs. I wanted to make something of it. I didn't really think about the stage win. I knew how steep that final climb was. Because of the fall of Brandon McNulty and Jay Vine, only Michael Woods remained as a super climber. I simply can't beat him on these kinds of finishes."

"I would have raced full throttle to get those mountain points. It’s nice to wear this jersey. I’m doing pretty well now, but I don’t know if it’s realistic. We’ll see. Will it secretly become a goal? I can’t say now that it’s not a goal when I’ve pulled myself apart for the points," Van Aert laughed.

Whether we will see the Belgian in the polka dot jersey at the end of the Vuelta remains to be seen. "I will see if it is realistic. There will be more opposition here than in the points classification. There are also quite a few mountains to come. In addition, I want to go for stage victories."