{"id":258821,"date":"2026-08-20T19:04:58","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:04:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/20\/it-could-be-an-opportunity-to-be-close-in-gc-opening-time-trial-in-monaco-enticing-incentive-for-wout-van-aerts-return-to-vuelta-a-espana\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T19:04:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:04:58","slug":"it-could-be-an-opportunity-to-be-close-in-gc-opening-time-trial-in-monaco-enticing-incentive-for-wout-van-aerts-return-to-vuelta-a-espana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/20\/it-could-be-an-opportunity-to-be-close-in-gc-opening-time-trial-in-monaco-enticing-incentive-for-wout-van-aerts-return-to-vuelta-a-espana\/","title":{"rendered":"‘It could be an opportunity to be close in GC’ – Opening time trial in Monaco enticing incentive for Wout van Aert’s return to Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Two years ago, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) made his debut at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/a>, and needed only two days to earn the red leader’s jersey. It was a short spell before he then relinquished the lead another two days later, though he came away with a haul of seven podiums, including a trio of stage victories.<\/p>\n

Stage success was again a main objective for the 31-year-old Belgian, who makes his first Grand Tour start of this season<\/a>. The squad will not have defending Vuelta champion Jonas Vingegaard<\/a> at the start, due to recovery from a broken collarbone suffered at the Tour de France, so will lean heavily on Van Aert, young Briton Matthew Brennan and former race winner Sepp Kuss to seek daily opportunities.<\/p>\n

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