ProTeam Vito Braet sprints to impressive third place in 16th Vuelta stage
Vito Braet claimed an impressive third place today in the 16th stage of the Vuelta a España. The 181-kilometre stage from Cortegana to La Rábida looked set to be one for the sprinters, although the hilly first half of the race and the headwind made for a demanding day. In the end, the winner was decided in a sprint, with Braet fighting his way onto the podium.
Race
08 September 2026
However, the original plan was not for Braet to sprint for himself. “The plan was to do the lead-out for Steffen (De Schuyteneer), but we lost each other at the roundabout. In the end, I tried to find my own way through.”
The finale required patience and good positioning. “The plan was to wait as long as possible, because with the headwind it was dangerous to come to the front too early. Because we lost each other, it became a bit chaotic.”
Still, Braet managed to position himself well for the sprint. “I know that when it’s a slightly harder race and most riders have lost some of their pure speed, I can make my own plan in the sprints. To finish third and be able to beat sprinters like these obviously makes me very happy.”
Photo: PhotoNews
