Brennan claims fourth win in La Rábida as Mas keeps the red jersey

Matthew Brennan has turned his Vuelta debut into a four-win run. The 21-year-old British sprinter dominated the finish of the 16th stage in La Rábida, Palos de la Frontera, after a flat 18.1-kilometer route from Cortegana.

Brennan crossed the line in 3 hours, 56 minutes and 33 seconds, at an average speed of 45.9 km/h. Bryan Coquard finished second and Vito Braet third. With Wout van Aert leading him out, Brennan gave Visma its sixth stage win of the race.

"It’s incredible. I came with the goal of winning one stage and I have four. I would like to ride the Tour next year, which starts in Great Britain, and do something similar," Brennan said.

“

It’s incredible. I came with the goal of winning one stage and I have four. I would like to ride the Tour next year, which starts in Great Britain, and do something similar.

The stage followed the expected script for one of the flattest routes of the Vuelta, with only about 1,000 meters of climbing. Five riders, Vermaeke, Madouas, Dalby, Sütterlin and Thalmann, formed an early breakaway, but the peloton kept them under control. They were caught 24 kilometers from the finish, shortly before the road reached the route alongside the beaches of Mazagón.

Enric Mas completed another day in the red jersey without losing ground. The Spanish leader maintained his advantage of 2:06 over Austria’s Felix Gall and 2:10 over Slovenia’s Primož Roglič. "Another day that I have got through, with five left. There were tense moments because of the wind, but it did not blow strongly," Mas said.

“

Another day that I have got through, with five left. There were tense moments because of the wind, but it did not blow strongly.