"Victory was close... although not that close" - Pau Miquel falls just short of glory at Vuelta's second stage
Cycling
Pau Miquel came within a whisker of a prestigious win on stage 2 of La Vuelta a España 2026. The Spanish rider finished second in Manosque, beaten only by Matthew Brennan, who surprised the group with a long-range move in the final sprint. Miquel, however, left with the sense he had taken a step forward and found legs that answered on a demanding finish.
"I’m quite happy. It’s a pity, the win was pretty close… although, well, not that close," the Spaniard told RTVE after crossing the line.
Brennan’s display made it clear the victory slipped away more due to the Briton’s superiority than any lack of strength. "Brennan won without debate," Miquel admitted to RTVE, choosing to focus on the positive sensations from a day in which he was among the best.
The Spanish rider also highlighted his team’s work across the 202.1 kilometers between Monaco and Manosque. On a day shaped by a fierce pace and late moves from the favorites, his teammates were crucial in keeping him well placed. “I’m satisfied with my legs and with the work the team did, so I’m very happy,” he explained.
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Miquel also revealed the stage was far tougher than it might have looked from the outside. The natural selection started even before the decisive part of the final climb, and the Spaniard had to settle into his own rhythm to avoid paying for the accumulated effort. "In truth, I suffered from the foot of the climb," he confessed.
That was also where his teammates’ work told. Pello Bilbao took on a big share of the responsibility to protect and position Miquel before the key moment, while Matevz Govekar played a notable role in the run-in to the finale. "Pello did an incredible job and Matevz was outstanding too," the Spaniard noted.
Once the final ascent began, Miquel chose not to follow every change of pace, opting instead for a more conservative strategy. "I set my own pace from the bottom of the climb," he explained.
"Next time will be my turn"
That call proved decisive to arrive with options for the finale after a stage of more than 200 kilometers on a route that punished the peloton’s legs. "Next time I’ll take it," he told Diario AS in a clear statement of intent.
The Spaniard thus stayed with the favorites and reached the final sprint with a genuine chance to win. There, however, Brennan was faster and opened enough of a gap to seal it. Miquel had to settle for second place which, despite leaving him tantalisingly close, confirms his ability to fight for major victories.
🇪🇸 LAS PALABRAS DE PAU MIQUEL TRAS ACABAR SEGUNDO@as_tv @AS_HugoPalomar @danimiranda9 pic.twitter.com/e029tzlpDg
— Diario AS (@diarioas) August 23, 2026
"I kept believing all the way to the line," Miquel summed up. The win slipped away, but the performance sent a clear message: the Spaniard is ready to seize every opportunity in a Vuelta that has only just begun.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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