Vuelta 2026: Sprint triumph Coquard, Pogacar abandons, Mas new leader

fotobureau Cor VosIn a stage overshadowed by Tadej Pogacar’s withdrawal, Bryan Coquard sprints to victory. The Frenchman beats Mads Pedersen and Jordi Meeus in the sprint, while Enric Mas takes over as the new race leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Stage 8 Results – 2026 Vuelta

1. Bryan Coquard (fra) 3:07:06
2. Mads Pedersen (den) s.t.
3. Jordi Meeus (bel) s.t.
4. Ben Turner (gbr) s.t.
5. Jordan Labrosse (fra) s.t.
6. Alessandro Romele (ita) s.t.
7. Bastien Tronchon (fra) s.t.
8. Hugo Hofstetter (fra) s.t.
9. Orluis Aular (Ven) s.t.
10. Matthew Brennan (gbr) s.t.

GC after stage 8

1. Enric Mas (spa)
2. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 1:00
3. Felix Gall (aut) + 1:11
4. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 2:15
5. Oscar Onley (gbr) + 2:16
6. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 2:22
7. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 3:27
8. Harold Tejada (col) + 3:56
9. Gregor Mühlberger (aut) + 5:39
10. Jakob Omrzel (slo) + 6:04

Race report
Sinuhé Fernandez attacks as the flag drops and opens up a lead of just under 6 minutes, before the peloton – or, more precisely, Visma | Lease a Bike – takes the reins. The lone attacker is reeled in before the intermediate sprint.

Van Aert wins the intermediate sprint to strengthen his lead in the points classification. Shortly afterwards, at the foot of the Puerto de Barx, Tadej Pogacar hits the tarmac hard. It appears that he has broken his collarbone, and he abandons the Vuelta.

The peloton waits for Pogacar, but once it becomes clear that the race leader has abandoned, they get back underway. At the summit of the Puerto de Barx, Van Aert takes the most points in the mountains classification before Xabier Mikel Azparren attacks on the descent.

The Basque rider's attack comes to an end with 4 kilometres to go and then it's up to the fast men. Two-time stage winner Matthew Brennan is quickly left without his lead-out, resulting in a very different kind of sprint. Mads Pedersen looks to be heading for victory, but Bryan Coquard comes charging through at the last moment to pip him on the line.

Following Pogacar’s withdrawal, Enric Mas is the new leader of the overall classification, with a 1-minute advantage over Primoz Roglic. Felix Gall is a further 11 seconds back in third.

Another interesting read: route 8th stage 2026 Vuelta a España.