Vuelta a España Stage 14: Brenner Wins First Grand Tour Stage for Tudor, Mas Gains Time

German rider Marco Brenner scooped the first ever Grand Tour stage win for the Tudor Pro Cycling squad Saturday, outpacing Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) atop Sierra de la Pandera. The duo were part of the big breakaway on stage 14 of the Vuelta a España, while behind race leader Enric Mas (Movistar) team and Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) gained time over Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and others.

Gall moved above Roglič into second overall as a result, with those two 2:06 and 2:10 behind Mas with seven stages remaining.

Those three plus Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) were the best of the GC contenders on the final climb, with a fascinating battle unfolding in the battle for the red jersey. Mas was equal to everything, riding with confidence, while both Carapaz and Roglič weakened towards the end.

Gall is now his closest challenger but remains 2:06 back. Still he was upbeat after the stage, as was Brenner.

“I think it’s the best day of my cycling life, but I cannot really believe it yet,” the 24 year old said. “I was not feeling super in the last…let’s say, until now. I was not feeling like myself. I was struggling with some sickness early in the race and I had a crash.

“I really wanted to show myself, but also my teammates who have been working really hard for me the whole time, that I can be up there.”

Larry Warbasse and Roland Thalmann were also in the breakaway and rode for him, giving him that extra motivation.

“On the final climb I could actually feel that I have the kick today. I felt better and better throughout the day. And then in the end I started believing in it. I made the move and Santiago [Buitrago] passed me, but I could catch up. And then in the end, I could beat him on the sprint.”

Vermaerke hunts stage win

Stage 14 of the Vuelta a España was one of the toughest of this year’s race, starting in Jaén, taking the riders 154.5km and finishing atop the fearsome Sierra de la Pandera. That final climb included sections of well over ten percent, making it a real test.

The day’s first big break pushed clear over 130k from the finish and included the American rider Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Emirates-XRG). Dozens of others bridged, of which Clément Berthet (Groupama FDJ United) was best placed in tenth overall. He was zero threat to race leader Mas as he started the day over 11 minutes back.

Vermaerke was in good form and surged clear 53km from the finish. He rode strongly but Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost) bridged across to him with 14km to go, ending his chances. Guillaume Martin (Groupama FDJ United) then joined to Steinhauser with 9.2km left, with others following suit.

Mario Aparicio (Brugos Burpellet BH) pushed ahead for several minutes before being replaced out front by Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious), who led into the final three kilometers.

The GC riders were looking more active behind, with Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) putting in a big burst but being reeled in by Gall, Mas and Roglič.

Buitrago was caught by Marco Brenner (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) with 2.5km remaining and while Christián Rodriguez (XDS-Astana) and Iván Sosa (Equipo Kern Pharma) got back to them, Buitrago surged once more.

Brenner was in control, though, getting up to him and winning the sprint to the line. It was a huge breakthrough, with both he and his Tudor team taking their first-ever Grand Tour stage.

“You live for days like today, I guess. There’s not many cyclists who achieve a stage win in a Grand Tour, and to add this to my palmares is really amazing,” he said.

Behind, Mas and Gall distanced Roglič and Carapaz, helped by the race leader’s teammate Raúl García Pierna. A big push by Gall extended the gap to 25 seconds by the line, moving him to second overall.

However he remains 2:06 behind ongoing race leader Mas, who is gaining confidence with each passing stage.

The race is far from over but, for now at least, he’s right where he needs to be.