'He can do everything' - Versatile Wout van Aert claims third stage at Vuelta a España

Wout van Aert in the breakaway on stage 10 of the 2024 Vuelta a España
Wout van Aert in the breakaway on stage 10 of the 2024 Vuelta a España (Image credit: Getty Images)

Between much-needed swigs of water at the Vuelta a España stage 10 finish and the occasional cough, second-placed Quentin Pacher succinctly summed up for reporters the reasons why he had just been roundly outdueled by Wout van Aert, and why, well before the finish, the Frenchman knew his chances of defeating the Belgian were close to zero.

"He is a real all-rounder, he can do everything - he can climb well, he can sprint well, he's really hard to beat," Pacher said.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.