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TakeVuelta4 weeks ago
Van Aert finished the 2026 Vuelta a España with the green jersey and the supercombativity award. Two years after being stretchered off stage 16 while leading both the points and mountains classifications, this is not a stat line — it's the sentence he couldn't write in 2024.
The supercombativity award is the tell here: Van Aert has admitted that after his 2024 crash and knee injury, he "didn't dare to throw himself in" during 2025 races. Winning stages 13 and 15 from breakaways and taking that prize signals the hesitation is gone, not just the deficit. As he put it himself: «After the near miss two years ago and the big injury, it was quite a disappointment, and that's what makes today more special for me... to come completely to the end and wear this beautiful jersey.»
Sources
Unfinished business no more – Wout van Aert rectifies 'one of the biggest disappointments of my career' with stunning three weeks at Vuelta a España'I didn't dare to throw myself in' – Wout van Aert opens up about post-crash mental struggles from 2024 and how he bounced back

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