Results Vuelta a Espana 2026 Stage 17 | Matthew Brennan storms to record-breaking fifth win as Visma make Grand Tour history

Matthew Brennan claimed a remarkable fifth victory on his Grand Tour debut as Team Visma | Lease a Bike completed a record-breaking seventh stage win at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana in Sevilla.

The 21-year-old defeated Jordi Meeus and Magnus Cort after Uno-X Mobility had taken control with a powerful lead-out inside the final three kilometres. Alessandro Romele finished fourth, ahead of Steffen De Schuyteneer and Axel Laurance.

Brennan launched his sprint with approximately 300 metres remaining and once again proved untouchable in a direct finish. He had now won all five bunch or reduced sprints he had contested during the race, adding Sevilla to his earlier successes in Manosque, Roquetes, Lorca and La Rabida.

The result also moved Visma beyond its previous best return from a single Grand Tour. Brennan’s five victories and Wout van Aert’s two had delivered seven wins from the opening 17 stages.

Uno-X arrived at the front with seven riders shortly before the final three kilometres, bringing order to a pursuit that had repeatedly stalled during the stage. Cort entered the final kilometre near the front of the Norwegian team’s train, but Brennan remained positioned for the sprint and denied both the retiring Dane and Meeus. The Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe sprinter took second, while Cort completed the podium.

Visma had already used Van Aert to neutralise a late move from Ivo Oliveira with four kilometres remaining. That ensured Brennan reached the decisive lead-out without another attacker escaping across the wide roads of central Sevilla.

The catch of lone leader Enzo Paleni came at approximately three kilometres to go. The Groupama – FDJ United rider had carried a 10-second advantage onto the bridge approaching the five-kilometre banner, but the combined pace of the sprint teams finally ended his pursuit of a maiden professional victory.

Paleni had spent almost the entire 185-kilometre stage at the front alongside Sinuhe Fernandez. Fredrik Dversnes initially joined them after the start in Dos Hermanas, but soon sat up and returned to the peloton.

Fernandez was making his sixth breakaway appearance of the Vuelta, while Paleni was searching for the first professional win of his career. Together they covered 43.9 kilometres during the opening hour and built an advantage exceeding four minutes.

Steven Kruijswijk led much of Visma’s early pursuit, with Cofidis assisting for Bryan Coquard. Both teams later eased their work in an attempt to force rival sprint squads to contribute, allowing the break’s advantage to balloon to 5:15.

Red Bull and EF Education – EasyPost eventually joined the chase, although further changes in pace kept Paleni and Fernandez in contention. A brief crosswind split was quickly repaired before the escape reached the intermediate sprint 1:13 ahead of the peloton.

Fernandez led Paleni through the sprint in San Jose de La Rinconada before Coquard took third ahead of Van Aert. Five kilometres later, Paleni dropped his tiring companion and continued alone.

Bruno Armirail replaced Kruijswijk at the front for Visma and rapidly cut Paleni’s remaining advantage. The Frenchman reached Sevilla with 40 seconds at 10 kilometres to go, but the broad, straight approach left him exposed to the peloton’s speed.

Enric Mas was kept out of trouble by Movistar and retained the red jersey before Thursday’s decisive individual time trial. He entered the stage 2:06 ahead of Felix Gall and 2:10 clear of Primoz Roglic.