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Britain’s Brennan claims third Vuelta stage win
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Published
Britain’s Matthew Brennan sprinted to his third win at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday has he powered to victory on stage 11.
The 21-year-old Visma-Lease a Bike rider easily held off Frenchman Bryan Coquard and Belgium’s Jordi Meeus at the climax of the 153.8km route from Cartagena to Lorca.
Overall leader Enric Mas of Spain retained the red jersey and has a one minute and 18-second lead over Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic in the general classification, with Britain’s Oscar Onley just over a further minute back in fourth.
Brennan held up three fingers after he crossed the line to celebrate a trio of victories in an impressive first Grand Tour.
“I’m with a team full of massive champions,” said Brennan, who was also victorious in the second and fifth stages.
“You’ve got guys who have been on podiums in Grand Tours and won them as well, and you’ve also got guys who have won big classics in some huge races.
“The boys did a fantastic job within that last 10km to really keep us in the right place, in the right position, out of trouble. And we crossed the line first, so we’re super happy.”
Lidl-Trek’s Mads Pedersen pulled out of the predominantly flat stage, earmarked as a day for the sprinters, through illness.
Thursday’s 12th stage sees riders travel 166.6km in the mountains from Vera, facing five categorised climbs, including the double climb of Velefique and the Calar Alto summit finish.
Stage 11 results
1. Matthew Brennan (GB/Visma – Lease a Bike) 3hrs 17mins 18secs
2. Bryan Coquard (Fra/Cofidis) Same time
3. Jordi Meeus (Bel/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe)
4. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den/Uno-X Mobility)
5. Wout van Aert (Bel/Visma-Lease a Bike)
6. Hugo Hofstetter (Fra/NSN Cycling Team)
7. Bastien Tronchon (Fra/Groupama-FDJ United)
8. Alessandro Romele (Ita/XDS Astana)
9. Matevz Govekar (Slo/Bahrain Victorious)
10. Orluis Aular (Ven/Movistar)
General classification after stage 11
1. Enric Mas (Esp/Movistar) 35hrs 59mins 02secs
2. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora – hansgrohe) +1min 18secs
3. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon CMA CGM Team) +1min 39secs
4. Oscar Onley (GB/Netcompany Ineos) +2mins 20secs
5. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/EF Education – EasyPost) +3mins 26secs
6. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +3mins 55secs
7. Sepp Kuss (US/Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +4mins 09secs
8. Harold Tejada (Col/XDS Astana Team) +4mins 39secs
9. Gregor Mühlberger (Aut/Decathlon CMA CGM Team) +7mins 33secs
10. Jakob Omrzel (Slo/Bahrain Victorious) +8mins 05secs
