Britain’s Matthew Brennan became the first grand tour debutant since Tadej Pogacar to claim three stage victories by winning stage 11 of the Vuelta a España on Wednesday.
Brennan, 21, benefited from another exemplary lead out by his Visma-Lease a Bike team to gallop to victory at the climax of the 153.8km route from Cartagena to Lorca. The Darlington-born rider’s Visma team-mate Wout van Aert had already won the mountain points on the day’s big climb before he casually dropped Brennan off with 175 metres to go. Brennan easily held off Frenchman Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Belgium’s Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), holding up three fingers as he crossed the finish line.
Brennan, who also won Stage 2 and Stage 5, is proving to be unstoppable in the fast finishes and he is now keeping some serious company. Not only does his latest win mean he matches Pogacar’s achievement at the 2019 Vuelta, Brennan also becomes the first British rider since Mark Cavendish at the 2021 Tour de France to claim three stages of a grand tour. Cavendish won four that year.
The perfect lead-out! ⭐️
The Breakaway were absolutely LOVING Wout van Aert’s 450m lead-out to deliver Matty Brennan to another victory at La Vuelta! 👏 pic.twitter.com/SNw0RRR5zJ
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) September 2, 2026
Asked about joining Pogacar, Brennan praised his team instead. “Yeah it’s massive. I mean, I’m with a team full of massive champions. 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.
“It’s an amazing opportunity and I’m really happy they go full gas for me. We took the initiative today again, and even after a tough day on the legs yesterday we still went full gas. Coming into the final we all held our place and were strong enough to be where we needed to be.”
With Pogacar having crashed out, overall leader Enric Mas (Movistar) retained the red jersey and has a 1min 18sec lead over Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) in the general classification, with Britain’s Oscar Onley (Netcompany-Ineos) 2min 20sec behind Mas in fourth.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Lewis Askey secured a stunning victory on Stage 1 of the 2026 Tour of Britain Men in Lincoln. Askey, who rides for the NSN Cycling Team, beat Filippo Ganna (Netcompany-Ineos) and Tim Wellens (UAE) up the famous cobbled Michaelgate climb.
Tim Wellens leads over Michaelgate! 🔥
An incredible atmosphere in Lincoln as the Belgian leads an elite group over the iconic climb on Stage 1 of the Tour of Britain. 👏 pic.twitter.com/jxXV4IJCvS
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) September 2, 2026
The day had begun with a minute’s applause for Finlay Tarling, the young British rider who was killed when he collided with a non-race vehicle going in the opposite direction at the recent Tour of Portugal. Tarling, 19, rode for NSN’s development squad.
The Tour of Britain paid tribute to Finlay Tarling with a minute’s applause ahead of the opening stage in Lincoln ❤️ pic.twitter.com/KcsvQ5HDxl
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) September 2, 2026
“I’ve been pretty close quite a few times this year, like at Nationals,” Askey said. “I’ve had a couple of seconds, a couple of thirds. So to come away with a win and put my hands up in the air, I think that’s why I ride my bike. I’m so happy to be able to do that again this year.
“My nan and grandad were here to watch, so that was super special.”
