Vuelta 2026: Brennan triumphs in Manosque, Pogacar holds on to red

fotobureau Cor VosEthan Hayter is on a mission in stage 2 of the Vuelta. The Brit picks up 6 bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint to take the red jersey from Tadej Pogacar, only to lose it again on the finish line. Matthew Brennan takes the win ahead of Pau Miquel and Tadej Pogacar, who consequently takes the red jersey back. (Slideshow route/profile)

Stage 2 Results – 2026 Vuelta

1. Matthew Brennan (gbr) 4:47:47
2. Pau Miquel (spa) s.t.
3. Tadej Pogacar (slo) s.t.
4. Mads Pedersen (den) s.t.
5. Hugo Hofstetter (fra) s.t.
6. Tobias Halland Johannessen (nor) s.t.
7. Finn Fisher-Black (nzl) s.t.
8. Axel Laurance (fra) s.t.
9. Oscar Onley (gbr) s.t.
10. Orluis Aular (spa) s.t.

GC after stage 2

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Wout van Aert (bel) + 0:09
3. Matthew Brennan (gbr) + 0:10
4. Léo Bisiaux (fra) + 0:12
5. Finn Fisher-Black (nzl) + 0:14
6. Stefan Küng (swi) + 0:18
7. Jay Vine (aus) s.t.
8. Mads Pedersen (den) + 0:20
9. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 0:26
10. Jordan Labrosse (fra) + 0:27

Race report
Shortly after the start, Koen Bouwman and Diego Uriarte go on the attack. Ethan Hayter sets off in pursuit, and yesterday's runner-up makes the junction on the Alto de Châteauneuf-Grasse. A second chaser, Sinhué Fernández, is not far behind either.

Bouwman wins the KOM sprint at the summit, while Fernández makes it for the front on the descent. Bouwman then secures the polka dots at the Col de Saint Andrieu.

As the riders approach the intermediate sprint in Gréoux-les-Bains, Visma | Lease a Bike ups the pace. With the gap down to 15 seconds, Hayter goes clear on his own. He doubles the gap and has enough left in the tank to be first across the intermediate sprint line. He picks up 6 bonus seconds, which puts him in the virtual red jersey.

Hayter then eases off and is swallowed up by the peloton.

Little happens for the remainder of the race, but that changes in the final 2 kilometres when Wout van Aert launches an attack. Tadej Pogacar jumps across to his wheel. The pair open up a sizeable gap, but the peloton catches them under the flamme rouge.

In the sprint, Matthew Brennan takes the win by a couple of bike lengths from Pau Miquel and Tadej Pogacar. As Hayter is dropped on the drag to the line, the Slovenian retains the red jersey, while Van Aert moves up to second overall and stage winner Brennan becomes the new third-placed rider.

Another interesting read: route 2nd stage 2026 Vuelta a España.