{"id":888174,"date":"2026-09-08T17:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T17:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/888174\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T17:00:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T17:00:20","slug":"as-it-happened-crosswinds-fail-to-materialise-as-the-sprinters-take-stage-16-at-the-vuelta-a-espana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/888174\/","title":{"rendered":"As it happened: Crosswinds fail to materialise as the sprinters take stage 16 at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>2026-09-08T16:02:20.657Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-ac6a903e-ab9e-11f1-9f9c-fd059aa4924d\">As for race leader Enric Mas (Movistar), his lead remains unchanged after Tuesday&#8217;s stage, and barring disaster he should be untroubled on Wednesday. Mas&#8217;s time with come on Thursday when he&#8217;ll need to defend his GC lead in the 32.1km individual time trial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/9Uyt2NKn6uXFpqKFyzKfwR.jpg\" alt=\"Enric Mas (Movistar) on the podium after stage 16 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espa&amp;ntilde;a in Palos de la Frontera, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/9Uyt2NKn6uXFpqKFyzKfwR.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/9Uyt2NKn6uXFpqKFyzKfwR.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-ac6a9106-ab9e-11f1-9dc7-fd644a31eaa5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">That&#8217;s all from us today, we&#8217;ll be back for more tomorrow, we hope you can join us.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:47:24.435Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-965cd088-ab9c-11f1-8372-4fb5ddb9bf7e\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There could be another opportunity for Brennan on stage 17.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">At 185km, the stage is marginally longer than today&#8217;s, but there&#8217;s half the climbing, so a bunch sprint would be the the most obvious conclusion. However, not only is the final much more technical, who is going to help Visma control a break.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-965cd088-ab9c-11f1-8372-4fb5ddb9bf7e-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">It seems the only way they can beat Brennan is to put the team under pressure. It didn&#8217;t work today, but it could do in Sevilla on stage 17. But do not be surprised in Brennan takes another.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:42:17.113Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-df1bf8cc-ab9b-11f1-aa03-4df3e04214ec\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">That was a brilliant win from Brennan and the entire Visma-Lease a Bike squad. They began the day with only six riders, after the loss first of Ben Tulett then Christophe Laporte, but they still managed to control a strong five man group throughout the 181.1km stage. Not only that, but they hand the resources to position Brennan perfectly for the sprint.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Such is the Briton&#8217;s strength, and that of the whole squad, it was as much of a foregone conclusion as a bunch sprint can be.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/XUEXTdVYMfab4sLmGBjbTd.jpg\" alt=\"Matthew Brennan and Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) after stage 16 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espa&amp;ntilde;a in Palos de la Frontera, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/XUEXTdVYMfab4sLmGBjbTd.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/XUEXTdVYMfab4sLmGBjbTd.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>More to come for Visma-Lease a Bike? (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-df1bfa48-ab9b-11f1-9341-7d8cfe78356b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Yeah, it&#8217;s unbelievable, four victories here. The plan was for one, and as a team, we&#8217;re now on six, I think, I&#8217;ve lost count,&#8221; Brennan said at the finish.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-df1bfa48-ab9b-11f1-9341-7d8cfe78356b-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We&#8217;ve won so many stages that we&#8217;ve gone for. We&#8217;ve really committed to the plan that we have. You&#8217;ve seen the boys all day today. If you&#8217;ve been watching at home, they just been pushing so much wind, and to finish off like that, bringing me across the line, basically in a perfect place in such a chaotic final, it was perfect.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I really trusted Wout and followed his wheel all the way, and yeah, it&#8217;s incredible that he can bring you in [position] in such a chaotic race.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:15:48.426Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-2c4a7d52-ab98-11f1-8c22-db1659ab037c\">Bryan Coquard takes second place, with Vito Braet (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9) in third.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:14:47.034Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-07987aea-ab98-11f1-b70f-47295e11093b\">Van Aert hits the front on the exit of the final bend and delivers a brilliant lead out to the 125m metre mark. No one can come round Brennan who makes it four wins and six for Visma-Lease a Bike.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:12:50.685Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c24460c6-ab97-11f1-9611-f7729ff8dc21\">The roundabout has caused a split, but all the sprinters are there<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:12:18.960Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-final-kilometre\"\/>Final kilometre!<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-af7f8d9e-ab97-11f1-8c5f-1526b9dd4bfe\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">This is getting scrappy, UNO-X really fighting as the road narrows. QuickStep hit the front<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:11:27.850Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-90fc25a8-ab97-11f1-9b66-79ad272d6238\">There&#8217;s a central reservation between the Soudal QuickStep part of the bunch and the rests of the peloton.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:10:54.315Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-7cd5ff7c-ab97-11f1-905a-a50bb3e9ae7e\">UNO-X are at the front now, but still Visma maintain position, what a ride.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:10:18.864Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-67b02aaa-ab97-11f1-987d-396b806e051d\">At 500m to go we\u2019ll see the final turn before the line, it\u2019s a left hander, but it\u2019s not a tight turn, though positioning here will be key.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:09:53.958Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-58ec3216-ab97-11f1-80c5-571fc5ccae5e\">The pace is very high, but the race is strangely calm in the run up to the sprint finish.<br \/>Remember we have the roundabout at 1.4km to go.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:08:24.867Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-23c712d6-ab97-11f1-8ade-d399698b255d\">The road is very wide here and the peloton is seething with a number teams able to fight for position. This can be dangerous.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:07:36.801Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-bunch-sprint-incoming-5km-to-go\"\/>Bunch sprint incoming &#8211; 5km to go<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-07268116-ab97-11f1-9b4d-a798e13a825c\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There&#8217;ll be no crosswind fun today, this is all set up for a bunch kick. Can Brennan make it four?<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:05:22.870Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-b786ebdc-ab96-11f1-b27c-9fc9df3a6932\">A number of teams are up there, Visma, Bahrain Victorious, Red Bull among them. Soudal-QuickStep are there with their full team, Alberto Dainese their man for the sprint.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:03:01.852Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-10km-to-go\"\/>10km to go<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-639518dc-ab96-11f1-b977-6d32166611aa\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">A group distanced by the crash have just got back on, at the front Netcompany-Ineos are there keeping the pace high and doing Visma&#8217;s work for them.<br \/>Of course they are executing their own plan as well.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T15:01:00.093Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-1ad616c8-ab96-11f1-a091-d7b530828ab0\">Round the roundabout and it\u2019s virtually straight all the way now, the next right turn coming 1.4km from the line.<br \/>Red Bull are on the front, but Visma are close by. Van Aert is close to the front with Brennan on his wheel.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:59:02.733Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-d4b088ae-ab95-11f1-81ba-c927adb53567\">Once they&#8217;re round they&#8217;ll have some protection in the trees, but it opens out.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:58:27.441Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-bfb5254a-ab95-11f1-90ae-13c8a8a5b2c9\">Coming to the almost dead turn roundabout now, it&#8217;s at 12km exactly.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:57:15.892Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-95156e9e-ab95-11f1-aa09-993107bb48d0\">Once again Visma are in complete control, this bodes well for another win for the Dutch squad, but they&#8217;ve done a lot of work, other teams will be looking to take advantage of that.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:55:28.399Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-close-to-the-coast-15km-to-go\"\/>Close to the coast &#8211; 15km to go<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-55424558-ab95-11f1-af90-df98005315f4\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Oliveira is up and riding again.<br \/>The roadside trees are moving in the wind, but so far they&#8217;re protecting the peloton and there&#8217;s no crosswind action.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:53:01.238Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-fd820920-ab94-11f1-9256-19d644e94edc\">Visma are back at the front, controlling the pace and protecting Brennan. Cofidis are there too, with Bryan Coquard looking for a second stage win and a career second Grand Tour victory.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:51:04.798Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-b89c0b9e-ab94-11f1-9fba-05834725dfe5\">Once again the road is well protected from any wind, but it&#8217;s not by the coast, with few in the way of buildings until very close to the finish.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:49:40.625Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-859f6358-ab94-11f1-a0a1-fdf76da56b6e\">At 12km to go we go almost all the way round the roundabout and head towards the finish and into a cross headwind almost alongside the coast.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:48:15.060Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-52b152e4-ab94-11f1-a171-abda69d39766\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have taken control now, Visma have melted away. Are Red Bull working for a sprint or in the hope of splitting the race in the wind and taking time out of Enric Mas?<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:45:35.353Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-the-breakaway-is-caught\"\/>The breakaway is caught<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-f3795722-ab93-11f1-a4bf-554dc198c3bd\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">23km to goo and the final is beginning. This will be some sort of bunch sprint.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:44:38.101Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-d180256a-ab93-11f1-b463-1b574326bdd6\">A crash in town, with Ivo Oliveira down.<br \/>Just eight seconds for the breakaway now.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:43:12.669Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-the-beginning-of-the-end-25km-to-go\"\/>The beginning of the end &#8211; 25km to go<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-9e70fa3c-ab93-11f1-b777-a52982865532\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Into Palos de la Frontera and we have a couple of roundabout and tight turns as we head south-east and into a cross tail wind of around 25kph. Is that strong enough to cause problems?<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:41:42.094Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-6bad40ce-ab93-11f1-a262-eb27211e57a7\">The gap has been allowed to increase again, it&#8217;s 31 seconds, they&#8217;ll reach the town at the front of the race.<br \/>Mind you, a lot of teams are fighting for their place on the road now.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:39:17.802Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-127ba5ea-ab93-11f1-8340-536501c1e673\">A roundabout with a touch more than 26km remaining sees the race head into the town of Palos de la Frontera, where there\u2019s all the road furniture you\u2019d expect in a town. It\u2019s technical, with the threat of cross tailwinds straight afterwards.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:36:20.606Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-a8c3a4ea-ab92-11f1-99c9-bfe371904317\">Will the breakaway be caught before they reach the town? That lead is coming down again, 19 secinds with 29km to go.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:33:54.143Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-518bd468-ab92-11f1-86b1-bb4e6b72ecd8\">Seems as though the break might be left to dangle for the while, they sitting just 30 seconds up the road with 31km to go.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:31:40.806Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-024e0844-ab92-11f1-b088-977bd2406ec9\">We&#8217;re alongside the estuary of the Rio Tinto, but the road is quite protected and there&#8217;s nothing doing in the crosswinds. So far.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:30:09.266Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-40km-to-go\"\/>40km to go<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-cbba655c-ab91-11f1-bf44-fb5e4369818e\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The breakaway is within touching distance, just 30 seconds ahead of the peloton.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:28:10.332Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-84900ba0-ab91-11f1-aa88-e53d71bb64e9\">The race has taken the turn and the oace is up, but iis the wind high enough. Surely someone will try something.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:26:59.354Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-5a438f02-ab91-11f1-b230-19a78c6f4a17\">The next roundabout is where those crosswinds will start, the buch are leaving nothing to chance and they have the breakaway in sight.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:23:28.587Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-dcbd676a-ab90-11f1-9459-b777422f1a1a\">The racing will get very interesting very soon, in the village of Barrohondo when they sweep left at a roundabout and the crosswinds hit from the right side.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:21:10.007Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-8a01a2c0-ab90-11f1-b78a-a706cf3a4350\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">24 seconds for the leading group now with 40km to go.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ United), Simon Dalby (UNO-X Mobility), Jasha S\u00fctterlin (Jayco-AlUla) and Roland Thalmann (Tudor ProCycling) have been up the road all day, but there was never much hope they&#8217;d stay away.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:16:22.896Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-dedcd7d4-ab8f-11f1-8b15-c7838cfe5831\">But it&#8217;s Cofidis on the front at the moment, with Red Bull also adding some firepower to Visma&#8217;s effort.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:14:56.033Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-ab4735fe-ab8f-11f1-9cf1-fdc00892dcce\">The peloton, and Visma in particular, are just playing with this breakaway, grinding away at them, but they&#8217;re not caught until they&#8217;re caught.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:09:02.795Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-50km-to-go\"\/>50km to go<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-d88da6b6-ab8e-11f1-8810-bd3fec234941\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The breakaway have fought valiantly, but they&#8217;re being brought back now. Their lead is below 40 seconds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/BLTJutHZ4eZ4HcjGJmavdM.jpg\" alt=\"The breakaway during stage 16 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana. (Photo By Francisco J. Olmo\/Europa Press via Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/BLTJutHZ4eZ4HcjGJmavdM.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/BLTJutHZ4eZ4HcjGJmavdM.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:04:06.658Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-27fecc9e-ab8e-11f1-801f-8353eaddc4aa\">Visma have reinforcements at the front now, Cofidis are there and even Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d&#8217;s Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe squad are close by.<br \/>Under 40 seconds for the breakaway<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T14:00:48.904Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-b232e8d8-ab8d-11f1-acff-2d27376be270\">For the first time the leaders&#8217; advantage drops below one minute, Vermaerke, Madouas, Dalby, S\u00fctterling and Thalmann lead by only 50 seconds with 55km to go.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:54:46.571Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-da2d70ac-ab8c-11f1-a64c-6336504248ff\">There&#8217;s a short &#8216;climb&#8217; coming up now, it&#8217;s nothing serious, just 4.5km averaging 2.4% gradient, it won&#8217;t trouble anyone in the race.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:50:43.997Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-49967ade-ab8c-11f1-87ab-77b895614273\">No surprise but it&#8217;s getting warmer as we head south and closer to the coast. It&#8217;s now 36\u00ba, warmer than forecast.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:47:20.702Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-intermediate-sprint\"\/>Intermediate sprint<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-d0a22baa-ab8b-11f1-a8d8-c58225bfdbd0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We&#8217;re in Villarrasa for the intermediate sprint. <br \/>1. Vermaerke<br \/>2. S\u00fctterlin<br \/>3. Thalmann<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There are 66km remaining of stage 16.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-d0a22c0e-ab8b-11f1-8248-2958e7180883-0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For unbeatable coverage across road, gravel and tech, subscribe to Cyclingnews. You&#8217;ll get comprehensive race coverage of La Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, subscriber-exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Join today.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:41:51.619Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-0db63b2c-ab8b-11f1-84d2-df40489d784c\">We&#8217;re approaching the day&#8217;s intermediate sprint which comes with 66km to go. The breakaway will take honours there, they still lead by 1:15.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:38:12.488Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-89a0f9f8-ab8a-11f1-b49c-c9f2284f2bbb\">Visma-Lease a Bike have been on the front all day long, they seem to have huge confidence in Matthew Brennan for the sprint finish, and rightly so. <br \/>Right behind them in the stretched out bunch are Movistar, keeping race leader Enric Mas safe.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:34:34.116Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-75km-to-go\"\/>75km to go <\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-0795b9c6-ab8a-11f1-aa6d-bfd516f32751\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The race has settled again with Visma having brought the deficit to the breakaway to 1:30.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:30:53.329Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-84261a2c-ab89-11f1-80ff-6f907d1e4fd6\">A bit of an issue for UAE Team Emirates&#8217; rider Doman Novak who had a musette stuck in a wheel. He&#8217;s and going though.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:29:27.310Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-50bd4106-ab89-11f1-8fe5-27436521a03d\">We&#8217;re descending from the hilly section of the race now and the next 80km are very flat indeed. the wind is still blowing, though it&#8217;s only around 20kph inland.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:24:41.323Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-a63058a4-ab88-11f1-8caf-671f72f56da7\">The gap has settled now, and the peloton sit 1:25 behind the leading group of Vermaerke, Madouas, Dalby, S\u00fctterling and Thalmann.<br \/>Meanwhile Timo Roosen has abandoned, leaving Picnic-PostNL with only four riders.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:19:32.724Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-ee3da76a-ab87-11f1-9edd-c3f64c2e5207\">Why are Visma bringing the break back so soon?<br \/>The chances are they want to get breakaway into a more controllable position, but not so close that others can bridge across and create chaos.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:14:33.523Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-3bff2ede-ab87-11f1-9409-03a2197fa20a\">It&#8217;s 35\u00ba out there now, that&#8217;s hot.<br \/>Visma-Lease a Bike seem to be in control though.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/VGuRCJyfCQGwvKByqpT63B.jpg\" alt=\"The peloton during stage 16 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espa&amp;ntilde;a. (Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/VGuRCJyfCQGwvKByqpT63B.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/VGuRCJyfCQGwvKByqpT63B.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:08:56.481Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-the-breakaway-is-being-brought-back\"\/>The breakaway is being brought back<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-731311de-ab86-11f1-90bb-438eb5399169\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The leaders&#8217; advantage is really coming down now, they&#8217;re only 1:30 ahead.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T13:00:52.943Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-the-final-100km\"\/>The final 100km<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-52eae838-ab85-11f1-b6de-911fcb47d2f7\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">With 100km to go there&#8217;s plenty of time for the sprinters&#8217; teams to bring this break back, but the gap is very gradually being whittled away. <br \/>Vermaerke, Madouas, Dalby, S\u00fctterling and Thalmann are 2:02 ahead.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:55:37.441Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-96d5d59a-ab84-11f1-b9fc-7d73ce83f796\">A few months older than S\u00fctterlin, Swiss rider Roland Thalmann is 33, but only began at ProTeam level in 2023. His only career win came in 2022, taking a stage in the 2.2 level Tour d&#8217;Alsace.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:52:23.624Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-236cb7ae-ab84-11f1-b19b-774b8e07151b\">At only 23, Simon Dalby is the youngest in the leading group and is an accomplished climber. In his second year at WorldTour level, the Dane is also a serial breakaway rider, up the road on stage 13 and in other stage races this year.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:47:07.443Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-66bb7078-ab83-11f1-b100-b9b05d0e4ac8\">Today isn&#8217;t the first breakaway for S\u00fctterlin, he was up the road on stages 14 and 10. the 33-year-old is super strong, has a huge engine and is very experienced.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:42:19.241Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-baf45e9e-ab82-11f1-ab91-b55c24ace9b5\">It&#8217;s warming up too, it&#8217;s 34\u00ba and approaching the maximum forecast temperature.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:37:33.349Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-120km-to-go\"\/>120km to go<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-10878f6c-ab82-11f1-9cac-072ff722a08c\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">That split in the bunch has been repaired, and the bunch have trimmed a little off the breakaway&#8217;s advantage. They have 2:10.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:35:27.122Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c55cbee0-ab81-11f1-9559-09bb1fdc0c44\">We have a split in the bunch. They&#8217;ve come over a small climb but the gradients aren&#8217;t too steep and the descent is far from technical.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:33:10.266Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-73b6c090-ab81-11f1-a335-0fac73127573\">Of the other breakaway riders, Madouas is the most successful in terms of victories. The Frenchman has seven to his name, though the 2023 Bretagne Classic is his most recent.<br \/>He&#8217;s a one team man too, he joined Groupama in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:28:23.143Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c89c4810-ab80-11f1-9b67-0d0962fd8119\">The breakaway&#8217;s advantage really has settled now, Vermaerke, Madouas, Dalby, S\u00fctterling and Thalmann lead by 2:40.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:23:07.796Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-0cf38dda-ab80-11f1-a4db-d3c2ffaaa010\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Maybe Coquard&#8217;s Cofidis squad will lend a hand, they did on Sunday&#8217;s stage into C\u00f3rdoba. What about Groupama-FDJ United?<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/vuelta-a-espana-bastien-tronchon-stuns-field-with-stage-10-victory\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/vuelta-a-espana-bastien-tronchon-stuns-field-with-stage-10-victory\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/vuelta-a-espana-bastien-tronchon-stuns-field-with-stage-10-victory\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bastien Tronchon won stage 10 in a bunch kick.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.60%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rpqXusLNchiUZcvPj8iNFo.jpg\" alt=\"Bastien Tronchon (Groupama - FDJ United) wins stage 10 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espa&amp;ntilde;a in Elche de la Sierra, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rpqXusLNchiUZcvPj8iNFo.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rpqXusLNchiUZcvPj8iNFo.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<a id=\"elk-seasonal\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:15:44.253Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-the-break-is-well-and-truly-established-135km-to-go\"\/>The break is well and truly established &#8211; 135km to go <\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-083b92f2-ab7f-11f1-8012-ed2b8a6e6187\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">With our five leaders now 2:24 up the road, this group is well and truly away and we have a classic sprint stage.<br \/>But can Visma control this all alone? Who will help them?<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T12:09:34.372Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-27d121d2-ab7e-11f1-82c2-9fee6de2c147\">We have a pretty strong group up in that breakaway. Tody, with plenty of experience. <br \/>American, Kevin Vermaerke has been incredibly active this Vuelta, though perhaps because his team are down just four riders.<br \/><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/to-be-honest-that-was-not-the-plan-at-all-kevin-vermaerke-follows-his-instincts-in-latest-long-distance-vuelta-a-espana-breakaway-move\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/to-be-honest-that-was-not-the-plan-at-all-kevin-vermaerke-follows-his-instincts-in-latest-long-distance-vuelta-a-espana-breakaway-move\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/to-be-honest-that-was-not-the-plan-at-all-kevin-vermaerke-follows-his-instincts-in-latest-long-distance-vuelta-a-espana-breakaway-move\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;To be honest, that was not the plan at all&#8221; he said of his solo move on stage 14.<\/a> <\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.60%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/KadXnRdpCW5U9vRhAKksP7.jpg\" alt=\"Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates XRG) during stage 14 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espa&amp;ntilde;a. Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/KadXnRdpCW5U9vRhAKksP7.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/KadXnRdpCW5U9vRhAKksP7.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:59:35.527Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-150km-to-go\"\/>150km to go<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c2d050d8-ab7c-11f1-834c-a56ad345a88e\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Well, we definitely have a breakaway, our five leaders are now 2:20 up the road and it seems their advantage has settled there.<br \/>If you missed it, this is who they are.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ United), Simon Dalby (UNO-X Mobility), Jasha S\u00fctterlin (Jayco-AlUla) and Roland Thalmann (Tudor ProCycling).<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:54:47.423Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-171e599c-ab7c-11f1-a135-a54893690157\">It was a hugely impressive performance from Wout van Aert to take the win on Sunday.<br \/>But he said; <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/im-not-coming-back-i-cant-maintain-this-statistic-wout-van-aert-clinches-second-straight-vuelta-a-espana-victory-in-cordoba\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/im-not-coming-back-i-cant-maintain-this-statistic-wout-van-aert-clinches-second-straight-vuelta-a-espana-victory-in-cordoba\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/im-not-coming-back-i-cant-maintain-this-statistic-wout-van-aert-clinches-second-straight-vuelta-a-espana-victory-in-cordoba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;I&#8217;m not coming back, I can&#8217;t maintain this statistic.&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.60%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/KKdBVKwV8gHqWcuwmtDMK4.jpg\" alt=\"Wout Van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) during stage 15 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espa&amp;ntilde;a.(Photo by Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/KKdBVKwV8gHqWcuwmtDMK4.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/KKdBVKwV8gHqWcuwmtDMK4.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:48:49.724Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-41dcc9e4-ab7b-11f1-9f55-47a5fa049d97\">Sunday&#8217;s stage 15 presented a very different route to today&#8217;s, but the breakaway was never allowed any real advantage, Visma-Lease a BIke holding close. Will they do that again? <br \/>The gap is still only 1:40.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:44:56.969Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-b73fb3c8-ab7a-11f1-971d-4f8398076a5f\">The front of the race is over an early unclassified peak and onto the rolling terrain which characterises the course until just after the half-way mark.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:43:22.627Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-we-have-a-breakaway-160km-to-go\"\/>We have a breakaway &#8211; 160km to go<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-7eeaf65e-ab7a-11f1-b490-75683702dc6b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ United), Simon Dalby (UNO-X Mobility), Jasha S\u00fctterlin (Jayco-AlUla) and Roland Thalmann (Tudor ProCycling) lead by 1:20<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:40:16.242Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-0ffe6c62-ab7a-11f1-b071-d1135c761da8\">Whoever&#8217;s doing the chasing, the breakaway&#8217;s lead is increasing. It&#8217;s now 1:10 seconds. Is it all done so quickly?<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:39:15.010Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-eb5dcc36-ab79-11f1-8cde-85cf9dd2f5a6\">The gap is creeping up, but they are being chased, with Visma-Lease a Bike and &#8211; strangely &#8211; UNO-X at the front. It could be that the Scandinavian team are interfering with the chase.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:36:37.910Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-165km-to-go\"\/>165km to go<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-8dde7bfa-ab79-11f1-9fad-ab5af578b315\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We&#8217;ve got some reasonably steep ramps here, well into double figures, ad we have five clear.<br \/>Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ United), Simon Dalby (UNO-X Mobility), Jasha S\u00fctterlin (Jayco-AlUla) and Roland Thalmann (Tudor ProCycling) have only 15 seconds.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:32:55.881Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-09568526-ab79-11f1-849f-7b39cee79732\">Now we have another group with a tiny advantage, this time it&#8217;s five riders.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:30:21.473Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-ad522adc-ab78-11f1-8805-c9a304b59140\">And that group of eight?<br \/>They&#8217;re caught.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:29:52.954Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-9c52b1fc-ab78-11f1-ade7-bb07136e512c\">Bryan Coquard is one of only two sprinters not in the Vimsa-Lease a Bike team to have won one of the bunch sprints in this Vuelta, so naturally the Cofidis rider was in demand this morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/RxSawmHM5WTd3JYSSopvEM.jpg\" alt=\"Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) meets the media before stage 16 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espa&amp;ntilde;a in Cortegana, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/RxSawmHM5WTd3JYSSopvEM.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/RxSawmHM5WTd3JYSSopvEM.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:25:27.068Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-fdda22e4-ab77-11f1-bc69-0fbca3d89bdb\">And there they go! Eight riders are trying to get away.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:22:56.181Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-a3e60da2-ab77-11f1-8aaf-633a59c96ccf\">Almost all the climbing comes in the opening half of the stage and after the downhill start the rolling terrain starts.<br \/>With 5km done, that&#8217;s where we are now, so expect the attacks to begin.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:18:13.424Z<br \/>\n<a id=\"elk-the-official-start-is-given\"\/>The official start is given <\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-fb61e124-ab76-11f1-b940-11429b3cbc20\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Let&#8217;s go. 181.1km of racing ahead of us, and it&#8217;s a down hill start.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:07:03.135Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-6bf1b510-ab75-11f1-81fb-272a38ce824c\">And we&#8217;re rolling! We have 4.6km of neutral before we get going. The day after the rest day will there be a huge fight for the break, or will teams accept that a bunch finish is inevitable?<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T11:01:50.921Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-b41f3d22-ab74-11f1-9d8f-d9a8658ea5a2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d is one of the favourites for the Thursday&#8217;s time trial, but can he gain enough time to overhaul Mas?<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/i-never-expected-to-be-going-this-well-primoz-roglic-says-anything-could-happen-in-vuelta-a-espana-gc-battle-with-enric-mas-and-felix-gall\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/i-never-expected-to-be-going-this-well-primoz-roglic-says-anything-could-happen-in-vuelta-a-espana-gc-battle-with-enric-mas-and-felix-gall\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/i-never-expected-to-be-going-this-well-primoz-roglic-says-anything-could-happen-in-vuelta-a-espana-gc-battle-with-enric-mas-and-felix-gall\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;Anything could happen,&#8221; says the Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe rider. <\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pLA4rca3Wn6cgDmnNdYDRX.jpg\" alt=\"Primoz Roglic (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) leads Enric Mas (Movistar) during the 2026 Vuelta a Espa&amp;ntilde;a. (Photo by Luis Gomez - Pool\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pLA4rca3Wn6cgDmnNdYDRX.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pLA4rca3Wn6cgDmnNdYDRX.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<a id=\"elk-seasonal\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T10:56:15.115Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-e997a062-ab73-11f1-a8e7-09cbf7d09e30\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Whatever happens today this is a big week of racing. <br \/>Enric Mas (Movistar) still leads, but can he hold on?<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/more-than-two-minutes-is-comfortable-movistar-head-toward-final-vuelta-a-espana-week-time-trial-with-confidence-in-enric-mas\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/more-than-two-minutes-is-comfortable-movistar-head-toward-final-vuelta-a-espana-week-time-trial-with-confidence-in-enric-mas\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/more-than-two-minutes-is-comfortable-movistar-head-toward-final-vuelta-a-espana-week-time-trial-with-confidence-in-enric-mas\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Movistar&#8217;s Director of Racing, Matt White certainly thinks so, saying, &#8220;More than two minutes is comfortable.&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/uHJZgirFFNzyEbkpghJNmg.jpg\" alt=\"Enric Mas (Movistar) during the 2026 Vuelta a Espana. (Photo by Luis Gomez - Pool\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/uHJZgirFFNzyEbkpghJNmg.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/uHJZgirFFNzyEbkpghJNmg.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<a id=\"elk-seasonal\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T10:48:53.169Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-e229d530-ab72-11f1-abbd-953b5068eee9\">It&#8217;s not just the heat Brennan with have to worry about today, it&#8217;s windy down near the finish, with a cross tailwind from 23km to go, then cross head from 12km.<br \/>This could be an exciting, nervy finish.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T10:45:49.240Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-74f61b54-ab72-11f1-b09a-c52ea0e742ae\">Visma-Lease a bike have dominated the sprints at this year&#8217;s Vuelta and Matthew Brennan is surely a favourite for today&#8217;s stage.<br \/><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/it-wouldnt-surprise-me-if-a-few-bodies-left-in-an-ambulance-with-heatstroke-matthew-brennan-offers-honest-assessment-of-sweltering-temperatures-at-vuelta-a-espana\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/it-wouldnt-surprise-me-if-a-few-bodies-left-in-an-ambulance-with-heatstroke-matthew-brennan-offers-honest-assessment-of-sweltering-temperatures-at-vuelta-a-espana\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/it-wouldnt-surprise-me-if-a-few-bodies-left-in-an-ambulance-with-heatstroke-matthew-brennan-offers-honest-assessment-of-sweltering-temperatures-at-vuelta-a-espana\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The British sprinter is one who&#8217;s been critical of racing in such hot weather.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/EJPV8ae6XFwjQB7yCbPjn7.jpg\" alt=\"Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike) during the 2026 Vuelta a Espa&amp;ntilde;a. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/EJPV8ae6XFwjQB7yCbPjn7.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/EJPV8ae6XFwjQB7yCbPjn7.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T10:39:44.713Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-9b426f34-ab71-11f1-b998-a5193a414f4a\">After days of ridiculously high temperatures, the peloton have the tiniest bit of respite today, with maximum temperatures forecast only at 34\u00ba.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mGBTYDNMaC5wcqDrNZEyu9.jpg\" alt=\"Enric Mas (Movistar) cools himself during stage 14 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espa&amp;ntilde;a. (Photo by Luis Gomez - Pool\/Getty Images)\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mGBTYDNMaC5wcqDrNZEyu9.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mGBTYDNMaC5wcqDrNZEyu9.jpg\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T10:34:10.402Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-d3fbbaac-ab70-11f1-a645-eb4fce8de309\">We\u2019re still in Andalucia for today\u2019s stage, right down in the far south-west, very close to the Portuguese border.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T10:27:05.473Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-d6b2084c-ab6f-11f1-bbac-8313b5805e9c\">There are no classified climbs today, though there are not far off 2,000m of vertical ascent as the race heads south down to the coast.<\/p>\n<p>2026-09-08T10:17:47.303Z<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-8a16fb10-ab6e-11f1-9d9b-6306350ea67f\">It looks like one for the sprinters today, with the vast majority of the 181.1km between Cortegana and La R\u00e1bida. Palos de la Frontera all downhill.<br \/>The race rolls out at 1:05pm local time.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c968390a-98d1-11f1-83e0-3598f9923386\">Good morning and welcome to stage 16 of the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/vuelta-a-espana\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/vuelta-a-espana\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/vuelta-a-espana\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/a>, we\u2019ll be bringing you live coverage throughout the day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"2026-09-08T16:02:20.657Z As for race leader Enric Mas (Movistar), his lead remains unchanged after Tuesday&#8217;s stage, and barring disaster&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":888175,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,82],"class_list":["post-888174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=888174"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888174\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/888175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=888174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=888174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=888174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}