In-Form German Triumphs on Grueling Mountain Stage at the Vuelta

Marco Brenner secured the biggest victory of his career on the Vuelta a España’s steep 14th stage, breaking Santiago Buitrago on the final kilometer. The 24-year-old German, riding for Tudor, had won the Tour of Poland a month earlier, but this victory carried greater weight.

The stage was shaped by a large breakaway before the best climbers began attacking one after another. Asbjørn Hellemose worked to place his Jayco teammate Koen Bouwman in the best possible position. Kevin Vermaerke of UAE Emirates spent a long period alone at the front, at one point holding a lead of nearly two minutes over the chasers, but the American eventually ran out of strength. Hellemose also faded further back.

Brenner and Buitrago proved the strongest survivors from the break, with Brenner ultimately prevailing. In the favorites’ group, Enric Mas answered every move from Richard Carapaz and Felix Gall. Gall was the only rider able to stay with Mas to the finish of the final climb, while Primoz Roglic had a difficult day.

Roglic, a four-time Vuelta winner, finished 25 seconds behind Mas and Gall and exchanged places with Gall in the standings. Gall is now Mas’s closest challenger, but remains two minutes and six seconds behind. Mattias Skjelmose lost time early and remains seventh overall, while the leading positions still offer no definitive conclusion before the race’s final week.