Marc Soler Triumphs in Stage 16 of Vuelta a Espana with Dramatic Breakaway

Marc Soler claimed victory in Stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana by executing a late breakaway, while Ben O'Connor's lead has been reduced to just five seconds over Primoz Roglic. Wout van Aert, who led both points and king of the mountains rankings, withdrew following a crash.

Marc Soler of Spain made a stunning breakaway to win Stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana, edging out Italy's Filippo Zana and Britain's Max Poole who took second and third places respectively. Soler described the win as very special, marking his first significant victory with the team in two years.

The final five kilometres proved decisive as Soler seized the lead, creating an unbridgeable gap. Meanwhile, Slovenian Primoz Roglic took advantage of the challenging conditions to close in on Ben O'Connor's lead, reducing the margin to a razor-thin five seconds as he finished nine spots ahead of the Australian.

In a dramatic turn of events, Belgian rider Wout van Aert was forced to withdraw from the competition due to injuries sustained from a crash. At the time, the 29-year-old was leading both the points and king of the mountains rankings, marking a significant upset in the race.

(With inputs from agencies.)