Jonas Vingegaard powers to Vuelta stage 16, cuts gap on leader Sepp Kuss

Jonas Vingegaard went solo on a brutal uphill finish to win stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana as race leader and Jumbo-Visma team mate Sepp Kuss struggled in the finale today.

The Danish Tour de France winner took off like a rocket with just under 4km remaining on the steep climb to Bejes and no other rider was able to stay on his wheel.

Vingegaard powered to the line 43 seconds ahead of Finn Fisher-Black (UAE Team Emirates) and Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious), who was 49 seconds in arrears.

American Kuss held on to the red jersey but finished more than one minute behind Vingegaard and now leads the standings by only 29 seconds from the Dane. Primoz Roglic completes a Jumbo-Visma top three and is 1:33 behind Kuss.

There are four stages remaining before Sunday's flat sprint finale in Madrid.

The Jumbo-Visma team were reeling today after the news that their rider Nathan van Hooydonck was in hospital after suffering life-threatening injuries in a car accident at home in Belgium after falling ill at the wheel.

The 27-year-old was severely injured in the crash today and was in a critical condition, Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reported.

"We can confirm that earlier today our rider Nathan van Hooydonck became unwell while driving his car, leading to his involvement in a traffic accident," a team statement said.

"He was subsequently transported to hospital, where he is receiving good medical care.

"We cannot confirm rumours that his condition is critical. He is undergoing further medical examinations. Thank you all for your messages to Nathan and the team."

Hooydonck was waiting at a junction in the town of Kalhmthout, near Antwerp, with his pregnant wife in the passenger seat, when he reportedly became unwell and inadvertently