"I just do my best every day" - Wout Van Aert the backbone of Visma's brilliant Vuelta streak
CyclingTuesday, 08 September 2026 at 19:42
Out of the sixteen stages that have taken place thus far at the ongoing Vuelta a España, Team Visma | Lease a Bike has won six of them. The Dutch team is able to count on Wout Van Aert to win stages, take the green jersey home and also help Matthew Brennan win on several occasions throughout the three weeks.
With over a third of the stages so far at the Spanish race won by Visma, the winning vein is undeniable and behind it is the Belgian. “On the one hand, yes, because there was a great team spirit back then too. Everyone rode for stage wins 100% back then as well, and I see that reflected again now," Van Aert said in the flash interview.
Van Aert, who is building form ahead of the World Championships, has won two stages in the second week; aside from the breakaway and leadout duties he has been conducting since the start of the Vuelta.
In the Dutch team, the chasing duties during this Tuesday's flat stage were up to two climbers, who kept the race under control for a scenario that favoured Matthew Brennan over the rest of the competition.
"It was really up to us to control things today. It took a long time before we could count on help from other teams. I really have to compliment Steven [Kruijswijk] and Jorgen [Nordhagen] on all their work at the front. They really didn't give the breakaway a chance.”
Van Aert happy with the work alongside Matthew Brennan
In the final kilometer, Van Aert had extra work at hand due to the absence of the recently departed Christophe Laporte. However, he succeeded in his task, taking the lead of the peloton in the final 500 meters of the stage with Matthew Brennan in the wheel.
Sixth at the end of the stage, with Brennan winning. A better outcome would be hard to hope for. “I just do my best every day. That’s what I like so much about a Grand Tour, there is something to do every day".
"If you are in the right form as well, it is simply the most fun thing to do. Of course, I do stand out with my green jersey". Van Aert's form has grown as the race moved forward, and looks to be in the right place with just under three weeks to go to the World Championships.
"We can all see that he is handling his first Grand Tour incredibly well," Van Aert said of the Briton. "He showed his good form again today. It is always a kind of journey of discovery for a young rider, but it all seems to be going very well. That is also the case for Jorgen, who is also still very young. That is nice to see".
Wout van Aert and Steven Kruijswijk at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
Steven Kruijswijk enjoying his final Grand Tour
“This is my last Vuelta, but I told the team: you can really squeeze me dry like a lemon," the veteran said in words to Eurosport following the stage. The Dutchman has been chasing breakaways on the flat day of the race, a key task in order to ensure his leaders get the chance to bring victories into the bus.
"I’m giving it my all one last time for the guys. It’s easy to say this, of course, when they finish it off every time, but you still have to actually do it.”
Read also
A former Tour de France podium finisher, Kruijswijk has long left the pursuit of results in the Grand Tours and has been a dedicated domestique for years. The Dutch team continues to be able to rely on him until the very end of his career.
“We are incredibly dedicated, but of course, it is also due to the presence of riders like Matthew and Wout. They make each other stronger and go through fire for one another.” Kruijswijk is, within reason, experiencing a dream final Grand Tour as the Dutch team has been winning on a consistent basis.
“This is already the sixth stage victory, and that makes it a bit easier to suffer like this. Is there more in it? It is certainly a challenge to win a seventh stage, because that is something we have never achieved as a team. It is a challenge, and we are happy to take it on," he concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 1visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- As I thought, just a moaning populist who refuses to check facts.Jumpyjohn08-09-2026
- You do realise that’s on organisers and not the UCI, no?Jumpyjohn08-09-2026
- Cycling doesn’t really have much to tell fans so stories always have to be made to sound more interesting than they are.Jumpyjohn08-09-2026
- Don’t need to change lyrics or AI to find something fitting for you : can't stay away from you I don't wanna let you go And though it's killing me that's true There's just some things I can't controlJumpyjohn08-09-2026
- Watching Wout lead out Brennan gives massive flashbacks to Van der Poel launching Philipsen to four stage wins back in 2023. Six wins (currently) for Visma this year is an incredible return, but for Brennan to do this on his Tour debut is on another level entirely. Genuinely unbelievable to watch, proper proud British moment.anonymouscyclist08-09-2026
- They are in cyberspace, belongs to no-one, yet.Jumpyjohn08-09-2026
- Psst, wrsty... and other Pogi haters: A Bob Dylan song: A remake PogiSloFans How many watts can one man push Before the Garmin starts to scream? How many climbs can Pogi crush Before the Tour becomes a dream? He rolls out smiling in the Alps, The rivals whisper, “Not today…” Then Pogi stands and hits the gas And suddenly he’s miles away. The answer, my friends Is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind. He attacks before the cameras blink, He attacks again for fun, He attacks because the road looks nice, Then attacks because he’s won. “Just follow him!” the team cars shout— A bold plan lasting half a mile. Then Pogi launches up the hill And waves goodbye with that famous smile. The answer, my friends Is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind. Everyone rides for second... While Pogi rides for glory.PogiSloFans08-09-2026
- He's 22, another young rider signed for 3 years. Again, where is the impending doom? They have won 5 stages at the Vuelta, 3 by Matthew Brennan, a 21 year old. Their superstar has 2 stages and the points jersey. They will exit the Vuelta with a jersey - as they did at the Giro. 2 out of 3 GTs with a jersey and stage winners in each is a great season, plus monuments, classics, and one week races. While some of the best riders were recovering during various times of the year. I just don't see this team collapsing as much as some seem to wish it was. And this will barely end up a "down year".mij08-09-2026
- Pogi is not racing he crashed out lol🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣paultryan200208-09-2026
- Even Britain did better at leaving than you. You just can’t resist can you. There’s a word for that. Actually, you can choose from a few.Jumpyjohn08-09-2026
Loading
Write a comment