Back in 2017, it was Fernando Gaviria who, as a debutant in a Grand Tour – the Giro d’Italia – managed to win four stages. Brennan even has the chance to better that record. There are still two potential sprint stages to come before Sunday, which the Briton could win.

Together with its young rider, Visma | Lease a Bike has also set a new record. Never before in its history – which stretches back through the Rabobank years to the 1980s – has the team won six stages at a Vuelta. That’s because, alongside Brennan, Wout van Aert has also already claimed two stage victories.

However, over the 181 kilometres from Cortegana to La Rábida on the Gulf of Cádiz in the Spanish region bordering Portugal, the Belgian was once again on the road as a support rider and lead-out man, carrying out his job to perfection. “We stuck perfectly to our plan. It’s quite unbelievable. I’ve now got four wins – we came here for just one,” said Brennan.

As expected, there were no changes to the general classification at the start of the third week. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) retains the red jersey. Van Aert, the leader of the points classification, also retains his green jersey, as do King of the Mountains Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain - Victorious) and Oscar Onley (Netcompany INEOS) at the top of the young riders’ classification.

2026 Vuelta a España – Results of Stage 16

Here’s how the 16th stage of the 2026 Vuelta a España unfolded

A group of five riders took advantage of the undulating opening kilometres of the stage to build up a lead of up to three minutes. Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates – XRG), Valentin Madouas (Groupama – FDJ United), Simon Dalby (Uno-X Mobility), Jasha Sütterlin (Team Jayco AlUla) and Roland Thalmann (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) were, however, quickly reeled back in. With 80 kilometres still to go, their lead had been reduced to just 1 minute 30 seconds.

Visma | Lease a Bike single-handedly organised the chase in what were once again sweltering temperatures, which once more broke the 40-degree mark as the race approached the finish. With 60 kilometres to go, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe and Cofidis also joined in the chase, so that soon only half a minute remained of the breakaway’s lead, whilst they were also riding into a headwind. With 24 kilometres to go, the group was caught.

At that moment, the peloton took a hairpin bend that exposed them to a crosswind. Red Bull moved to the front and took the peloton into the wind. However, neither the sprinters nor the general classification contenders were shaken off, so the pace dropped again and Visma regained control of the peloton.

Nothing else happened in the final kilometres to the finish. Even without Christophe Laporte, who had dropped out, Visma once again dominated the final stretch. Van Aert set up the sprint for Brennan perfectly and guided the Briton to his fourth stage win, whilst also picking up points for the green jersey himself by finishing sixth.