2026-09-08T11:59:35.527Z
150km to go
2026-09-08T11:54:47.423Z
It was a hugely impressive performance from Wout van Aert to take the win on Sunday.
But he said; “I’m not coming back, I can’t maintain this statistic.”
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-09-08T11:48:49.724Z
Sunday’s stage 15 presented a very different route to today’s, but the breakaway was never allowed any real advantage, Visma-Lease a BIke holding close. Will they do that again?
The gap is still only 1:40.
2026-09-08T11:44:56.969Z
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.
2026-09-08T11:43:22.627Z
We have a breakaway – 160km to go
2026-09-08T11:40:16.242Z
Whoever’s doing the chasing, the breakaway’s lead is increasing. It’s now 1:10 seconds. Is it all done so quickly?
2026-09-08T11:39:15.010Z
The gap is creeping up, but they are being chased, with Visma-Lease a Bike and – strangely – UNO-X at the front. It could be that the Scandinavian team are interfering with the chase.
2026-09-08T11:36:37.910Z
165km to go
2026-09-08T11:32:55.881Z
Now we have another group with a tiny advantage, this time it’s five riders.
2026-09-08T11:30:21.473Z
And that group of eight?
They’re caught.
2026-09-08T11:29:52.954Z
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.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-09-08T11:25:27.068Z
And there they go! Eight riders are trying to get away.
2026-09-08T11:22:56.181Z
Almost all the climbing comes in the opening half of the stage and after the downhill start the rolling terrain starts.
With 5km done, that’s where we are now, so expect the attacks to begin.
2026-09-08T11:18:13.424Z
The official start is given
2026-09-08T11:07:03.135Z
And we’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?
2026-09-08T11:01:50.921Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-09-08T10:56:15.115Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-09-08T10:48:53.169Z
It’s not just the heat Brennan with have to worry about today, it’s windy down near the finish, with a cross tailwind from 23km to go, then cross head from 12km.
This could be an exciting, nervy finish.
2026-09-08T10:45:49.240Z
Visma-Lease a bike have dominated the sprints at this year’s Vuelta and Matthew Brennan is surely a favourite for today’s stage.
The British sprinter is one who’s been critical of racing in such hot weather.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-09-08T10:39:44.713Z
After days of ridiculously high temperatures, the peloton have the tiniest bit of respite today, with maximum temperatures forecast only at 34º.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-09-08T10:34:10.402Z
We’re still in Andalucia for today’s stage, right down in the far south-west, very close to the Portuguese border.
2026-09-08T10:27:05.473Z
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.
2026-09-08T10:17:47.303Z
It looks like one for the sprinters today, with the vast majority of the 181.1km between Cortegana and La Rábida. Palos de la Frontera all downhill.
The race rolls out at 1:05pm local time.
Good morning and welcome to stage 16 of the Vuelta a España, we’ll be bringing you live coverage throughout the day.