Lorca (Spain) (AFP) – British cyclist Matthew Brennan achieved his third stage victory in the Vuelta a España by winning the sprint this Wednesday in the mass finish in Lorca, thanks to the work of his teammate Wout Van Aert.

First modification: 09/02/2026 - 18:01

At 21 years old, the young British sprinter is emerging in Spain as one of the cyclists to take into account in the coming years in mass arrivals.

This Wednesday he benefited from the work done by his team, the Visma-Lease bike, and above all by Van Aert, who made the last relay in the last kilometer so that the Briton could finish the job at the end of the 153.8 km of flat route between Cartagena and Lorca.

"I'm in a team full of enormous champions. You have guys who have been on grand tour podiums and who have won them, and you also have guys who have won big classics," thanked the stage winner.

"The guys did a fantastic job in those last 10km to keep us in the right place, in the right position, out of trouble. And we crossed the line first, so we're super happy," he added.

"The fact that they bet on me every time is an incredible opportunity, and I am very grateful that they give everything for me."

Equals Pogacar

Already a winner in the second and fifth stages, Brennan becomes the first winner of three stages in his first participation in a grand tour since a certain Tadej Pogacar in the 2019 Vuelta.

Brennan beat the Frenchman Bryan Coquard and the Belgian Jordi Meeus to the finish line.

The Spanish Enric Mas remains the leader of the race, although on Thursday he will have a litmus test in defending the red jersey, with the arrival in Calar Alto (Almería).

On Thursday, cyclists will have to travel the 167 km that separate Vera from Calar Alto, with five mountain passes along the way.

In the last 30 kilometers, the contenders for the Vuelta title will have to climb two first-class climbs: Alto de Velefique (13 km at 7.2% average gradient and the summit 21 km from the finish line) and Calar Alto (17 km at 5.6%), at the top of which the arrival banner will be installed.

Mas's main threats in the fight for the red jersey are the Slovenian Primoz Roglic, who seeks to be the first cyclist to win five Tours of Spain (he is 1'18" behind the Mallorcan) and the Austrian Feliz Gall (1'39").

Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, fifth overall, 3'26" behind Mas, will also have a good opportunity to get into the fight for the podium.

© 2026 AFP

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