'It's a one in a million situation, isn't it?' – Superstar lead-out helps Matthew Brennan match Tadej Pogačar at Vuelta a España in more ways than one

Matthew Brennan holds up three fingers after winning stage 11 of the Vuelta a Espana 2026.

Grand Tour debutants are normally looking to simply survive through the 21 stages and get a first taste of cycling's hardest races, but Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) has completely bypassed that notion by completing his hat-trick just 11 stages into his first tilt at the Vuelta a España.

Not only that, but he also emulated Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) with his third victory into Lorca, coming to the line first with another powerful sprint off the back of a perfect Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte lead-out.