Wout van Aert held off Kaden Groves to claim Vuelta a España 2024 Stage 3 victory on Monday in another bunch sprint finish.

The Belgian charged to victory at the end of the 191.2-kilometer run from Lousa to Castelo Branco in Portugal, having the power to stay ahead of Australian Stage 2 winner Groves.

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General classification leader Visma-Lease a bike rider Van Aert holds on to the red jersey, finishing in 4 hours, 40 minutes, 42 seconds. He's ahead of Groves and Spaniard Jon Aberasturi.

Van Aert secured his 10th Grand Tour stage victory having finished third and second on the opening two days of the Vuelta.

"It's worth it to be patient, it's been quite a while since I could raise my hands (in celebration), and this feels so good," said Van Aert after his first win since February. "To use my strength and launch early... I think I surprised (Groves) by going even before 200 meters... it was the perfect sprint for me.

"The team was so strong. We had the whole race in control. They got me the perfect position in the end, so this gave me the confidence to finish it off."

Van Aert will take a supporting role for his teammate and last year's champion, Sepp Kuss, for Stage 4, the first chance for the general classification riders to take control.

"Unfortunately, the fun is over, and tomorrow I'll be happy to give the role as team leader to Sepp and Cian (Uijtdebroeks)," Van Aert added. "It will be the first test for the GC guys, and I will try to enjoy (wearing red) one more time."

Kuss is 1 minute, 6 seconds behind Van Aert, while three-time Vuelta champion and this year's favorite, Primoz Roglic, trails the Belgian by 30 seconds.

Spaniards Ibon Ruiz and Luis Angel Mate made an early breakaway for the second day running, with compatriots Unai Iribar and Xabier Isasa joining them.

The latter left the others behind, but in the baking Portuguese summer heat, the peloton reeled in Isasa with around 20 kilometers remaining, with the stage profile inviting another bunch sprint finish, conquered by Van Aert.

The race enters Spain for Stage 4, running 170.5 kilometers from Plasencia to Pico Villuercas in the Extremadura region.

With a tough final climb in the Sierra de Villuercas mountain range, the likes of Kuss and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe's Slovenian veteran Roglic, will likely dominate.

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