He’s simply unstoppable: British sprint newcomer Matthew Brennan has celebrated his fifth stage win on his Vuelta debut. The 21-year-old prevailed in a bunch sprint on the 17th stage between Dos Hermanas and Seville, after 185 kilometres, ahead of Belgium’s Jordi Meeus and Denmark’s Magnus Cort Nielsen. Brennan has thus drawn level with the German professional cyclist John Degenkolb, who secured five stage wins in the Vuelta a España in 2012.
For a long time, Enzo Paleni from France and the Spaniard Sinuhé Fernández were on the breakaway; Paleni was caught by the peloton just under five kilometres from the finish after riding solo for several kilometres.
Roglic is aiming to challenge for the red jersey in the individual time trial
Over the next few days, the focus will be on the battle for the red jersey. The Spanish leader, Enric Mas, has a 2-minute 6-second lead over Primoz Roglic, who is currently third overall, and is keen to finally win a Grand Tour after finishing second three times in the Vuelta.
However, the four-time Vuelta winner from Slovenia could still turn the tide in his favour on Thursday in the 32.1-kilometre individual time trial from El Puerto de Santa María to Jerez de la Frontera; Roglic is considered the stronger time-trialist. A fifth victory would make the 36-year-old the Vuelta’s record winner.
The overall winner is likely to be decided during the mountain finishes on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the Tour of Spain concludes in Granada after a flat stage.
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