Sunday’s last stage of the 81st Vuelta a España’s second week was shortened by race organizers due to sweltering heat. It was the fourth stage in a row won by a breakaway rider, Wout Van Aert taking the day’s prize from a late escape. The green jersey’s second win of the 81st edition was also the fifth in his career and fifth in the 2026 Vuelta by a Visma-Lease a Bike rider. Enric Mas stayed safe in the red jersey.
Heat Cuts 71 km, Cat. 3 From Stage
The Vuelta organizers trimmed 71 km and a Cat. 3 climb from Sunday’s parcours, leaving two Cat. 3s on the 110 km from Palma del Río to Córdoba.
Another breakaway victory in the cards? Image by La FlammeRouge
Stage 7 winner Andreas Leknessund was among the 11 riders who escaped while it was still flat. The escape was only given a short leash.
Leknessund was the first breakaway rider to prevail in the 2026 Vuelta. Photo: Sirotti
The fugitive group wouldn’t stay intact on the final climb of the day, Puerto Artafi. Leknessund was the last from the original break still standing. With the peloton so near, fellows started to bridge over. One of them was Van Aert. More moves flared out from the red jersey group on the plateau. Van Aert, Leknessund and three others headed descended from the plateau with a gap.
When they hit the flat final 9 km, the other four fellows had a problem: Van Aert. Thibau Nys and Ramses Debruyne tried to get away, as did Leknessund. No dice.
Van Aert led under the red kite, but Leknessund grabbed the reins. Nys went a little early and Van Aert came around him with ease.
Riders now get a much-earned rest on Labour Day.
81st Vuelta a España, Stage 15
1) Wout Van Aert (Belgium/Visma-Lease a Bike)
2) Alessandro Romele (Italy/XDS Astana) s.t.
3) Thibau Nys (Belgium/Lidl-Trek) s.t.
81st Vuelta a España GC
1) Enric Mas (Spain/Movistar) 52:05:56
2) Felix Gall (Austria/Decathlon-CMA-CGM) +2:06
3) Primož Roglič (Slovenia/Red Bull) +2:10