Debutante Matthew Brennan (Visma), aged 21, has secured a remarkable fourth stage win in La Vuelta, dominating the sixteenth stage held between Cortegana and Palos de la Frontera. The 18.1 km stage concluded with a pure sprint where Brennan showcased his authority, crossing the finish line in 3h.56.33 at an average speed of 45.9 km/h. This marks his fourth victory in his debut appearance in the Spanish tour.
Brennan's teammate, Wout van Aert, played a crucial role in setting up the sprint, contributing to the Visma team's total of 6 stage wins. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) of France and Vito Braet (Lotto) of Belgium finished second and third, respectively.
Enric Mas (Movistar), the race leader, navigated the stage without incident, maintaining his red jersey with a 2.06-minute lead over Felix Gall (Decathlon) and 2.10 minutes ahead of Primoz Roglic. Mas commented that after the rest day, the initial relaxation was noticeable, but the stage proceeded smoothly.
The stage, one of the flattest in La Vuelta, saw an early breakaway attempt by five riders (Vermaeke, Madouas, Dalby, Sütterlin, and Thalmann) who were caught 24 km from the finish by the peloton, controlled by the Visma team aiming for Brennan's victory.
The seventeenth stage will take place this Wednesday, September 9th, from Dos Hermanas to Sevilla, covering 185 kilometers with the finish line at Paseo Colón in the Andalusian capital. The race will enter Sevilla via the San Jerónimo neighborhood, traversing several major avenues, which will necessitate traffic diversions and a special mobility plan.
The Guardia Civil will deploy 311 agents, and the National Police will have 326 officers to ensure the event's security. The Seville City Council has organized the distribution of commemorative t-shirts and entertainment along the route.
