“I perhaps realised too late that the stage win was possible” – Wout van Aert denied Vuelta victory but finds consolation in taking green jersey from Tadej Pogacar

Wout van Aert left Stage 7 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana with the green jersey on his shoulders, but also with the nagging feeling that a first victory of the race may have escaped before he fully recognised the opportunity in front of him.

The Team Visma | Lease a Bike star spent much of the mountainous road to Aramon Valdelinares in a five-man breakaway alongside Andreas Leknessund, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Alexey Lutsenko and Eddie Dunbar. Van Aert collected maximum points at the intermediate sprint and added eight points across two categorised climbs, gradually turning what began as a points raid into a possible bid for the stage.

By then, however, Van Aert was already approaching his limit. He began the final ascent expecting to defend a place near the front rather than believing he could win, only to discover that most of his breakaway companions were suffering just as badly. “During the stage, I perhaps realised too late that the stage win was possible,” Van Aert told VTM Nieuws after finishing third. “After the intermediate sprint, I was already on the limit on the penultimate climb.”

The Belgian had therefore adjusted his ambitions before the decisive attack arrived. “I was simply hoping to begin the final climb with a good advantage so that I could still finish inside the top five and collect as many points as possible,” he explained. “I was surprised that everyone behind me was also completely spent.”

Leknessund made his move with approximately 7.5 kilometres remaining and immediately created separation on the steepest section of the climb. Van Aert initially lost contact with Lutsenko and Johannessen as well, but fought his way back before dropping the Kazakh and setting off after the lone Norwegian.

Johannessen remained on Van Aert’s wheel while his Uno-X teammate consolidated his advantage. Once Leknessund’s victory was secure, Johannessen attacked Van Aert inside the final two kilometres to complete an emotional Norwegian one-two on the day of King Harald V’s death.

Third place nevertheless completed a productive afternoon for Van Aert. Combined with the 20 points taken at the intermediate sprint, his podium moved him to 104 points and allowed him to take the classification lead from Pogacar by two.

“I’m happy that I’m leading the classification and not merely wearing the jersey,” Van Aert said with a laugh. Pogacar had previously led the points competition while wearing red, meaning Van Aert had only been its visible representative during the earlier stages. “The goal is also to wear this jersey all the way to the end, but there is still a long way to go and it certainly won’t be easy.”

Van Aert may have recognised his chance of victory too late, but his work across Stage 7 ensured the day was not lost. For the first time in this Vuelta, the green jersey is his by right rather than on loan from Pogacar.