“The legs are there and we will continue to try our luck”: Bryan Coquard encouraged by another close Vuelta finish
CyclingTuesday, 08 September 2026 at 23:00
Bryan Coquard came close to adding another Vuelta a España stage victory to his palmarès on Tuesday, while Vito Braet produced one of the surprises of stage 16 by completing the podium. Both riders were left to settle for second and third behind Matthew Brennan, but their reactions afterward revealed plenty of confidence as the Vuelta enters its final stages.
Coquard had been one of the main challengers to Visma | Lease a Bike’s dominant sprint train throughout the finale.
Cofidis worked throughout the day to keep the five-man breakaway under control before positioning its leader for the expected bunch finish, and Coquard was able to get onto the right wheel when the decisive sprint unfolded.
The Frenchman ultimately had to settle for second as Brennan claimed his fourth victory of the Vuelta. Behind him, Braet took an unexpected third place after finding his way through the hectic final kilometers.
Matthew Brennan won stage 16 of the Vuelta a España
Coquard believes victory is within reach
Cofidis had committed heavily to controlling the breakaway, with Coquard’s teammates helping ensure that the escapees never established a decisive advantage. The gap had fallen to just 20 seconds with 40 kilometers remaining before the peloton finally brought the move back.
That work gave Coquard the opportunity he had been looking for, and he felt that his positioning and timing in the finale were good enough to challenge for the win. “We really did a great job as a whole team. Everyone stepped up, the guys worked hard all day to control the breakaway and then to position me at the front,” Coquard said after the finish.
The final challenge came from the Visma train, with Wout van Aert performing a major lead-out for Brennan. Coquard managed to place himself behind the Belgian and launched his own sprint at the right moment, but Brennan proved too fast.
“In the finale, the Visma train was very strong, with Wout van Aert doing an enormous amount of work for Matthew Brennan. I managed to take the right wheel and produce my effort at the right moment,” Coquard explained. “I wasn't missing much, simply a rider who was faster than me on the line.”
The Cofidis leader saw little reason to regret his team's approach. “It’s obviously frustrating to come so close to the victory, but we have no regrets about the way we raced. The legs are there and we will continue to try our luck until the end.”
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Braet turns a difficult sprint into a breakthrough result
Braet had a very different reason to celebrate. The 25-year-old Belgian entered the final kilometers without the same level of expectation as the more established sprint contenders, but he negotiated a fast and nervous finale to secure third place for Lotto Intermarché.
Braet found himself close enough to the action when Brennan and Coquard launched their sprints. “It was a very hectic, very fast and a little dangerous sprint, but for us it is a really great result,” Braet said.
“We were well positioned in the finale. In the last few meters, I saw Bryan Coquard and Matthew Brennan launch. I was just behind them, gave everything I had to the line, and finishing third behind two guys that fast is fantastic for the team.”
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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