Britain’s Matthew Brennan surged to his fourth stage win of this year’s Vuelta a Espana in La Rabida on Tuesday.
The Darlington 21-year-old, who is making his Grand Tour debut, was set up by Visma-Lease a Bike team-mate Wout van Aert before surging home at the head of another gripping group sprint to round off stage 16.
Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Vito Braet (Lotto-Intermarche) completed the podium places on a day that continued Brennan’s dream start to Grand Tour cycling.
“It’s unbelievable. Four victories, and the plan was for one,” said Brennan. “For the team, it’s six, I’ve lost count, we’ve won so many.”
“I really trusted Wout and followed his wheel all the way. It’s incredible that he can put you in such a perfect position in such a chaotic race.”
Brennan’s team had been at the front of the peloton throughout and tracked a five-rider breakaway led by Kevin Vermaerke with around 30km to go, reeling them in before Van Aert spurted clear to set Brennan up for another win.
The general classification remained relatively unscathed with Spain’s Enrico Mas still at the top of the standings, just over two minutes in front of Felix Gall of Austria and Slovenia’s four-time winner Primoz Roglic. Britain’s Oscar Onley is fifth.
PA