LA VUELTA 2026 | STAGE 11 | CARTAGENA > LORCA
Frustrated in Elche de la Sierra, Visma-Lease a Bike and Matthew Brennan found a new opening in Lorca to claim stage 11 of La Vuelta 26. Already the winner on days 2 and 9, the 21-year-old British sprinter is the first rider to take three stage wins in his Grand Tour debut since Tadej Pogacar in La Vuelta 19. As for a sprinter claiming three victories in his maiden Grand Tour, it had not been seen since Fernando Gaviria in the Giro 2017. This time, the British arrow got the better of Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), the winner of stage 8 in Xeraco, and Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), who finished in the day’s top 3 for the third time. The cast of protagonists will be completely different on Thursday as the road rises for a gruelling mountain showdown to Calar Alto.
Another opportunity for the sprinters? Stage 11’s route between Cartagena and Lorca (153.8 km) is essentially flat (1,350 metres of elevation gain) but the Alto de Aledo (9.5 km at 4.2 %) offers an opportunity to flip the script just before the final 30 kilometres. The riders are also wary of the wind on the roads of Murcia, an area with a rich cycling history embodied by the emblematic Alejandro Valverde.
An early 4-man break
The winner the Vuelta a Murcia 2022 in Cartagena, Alessandro Covi (Jayco AlUla) is among the first attackers alongside Domen Novak (UAE Emirates XRG) and Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step). Sinuhé Fernandez (Burgos Burpellet BH) rapidly bridges the gap to take part in his fourth breakaway in La Vuelta 26.
Behind them, Cofidis and Visma-Lease a Bike set the pace at the front of the bunch just like they did the day before. The rolling terrain and the strength of the front group gave them a hard time en route to Elche de la Sierra (stage 10). They want revenge and they’re not willing to give the early attackers much hope – the maximum gap of the day is 1’45’’ at km 30.
Skirmishes through the wind and a fast sprint
The peloton maintain a strong pace and a handful of teams – Tudor, EF Education-EasyPost, Bahrain Victorious, XDS Astana – up the ante into a wind exposed section. The peloton momentarily splits while the early attackers are caught 93 kilometres from the finish. The calm returns and everyone gets back together.
Ethan Hayter attacks again with 75 kilometres to go. This time, he’s joined by Larry Warbasse (Tudor). Tue duo opens gap of 30 seconds and Hayter goes first at the intermediate sprint before they are reeled in on the categorised climb of the day, the Alto de Aledo (cat. 3, summit at km 121.8).
Pinarello Q36.5 set a strong pace on the ascent. Third in theintermedivte sprint, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) goes first at the summit. His teammates then drive a reduced bunch along with Pinarello Q36.5 and Uno-X Mobility. Netcompany Ineos also get in the mix. But the Visma-Lease a Bike train powers to the front for the last kilometre and Brennan delivers his third stage win ahead of Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).
Stage 11
- Matthew Brennan (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) 3h17’18”
- Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) +0’00”
- Jordi Meeus (Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe) +0’00”
GC
- Enric Mas (Movistar Team) 35h59’02”
- Primoz Roglic (Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe) +01’18”
- Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) +01’39”
