Wout van Aert wins shortened stage 15 of Vuelta a España in Córdoba
The Guardian Sport • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 6, 2026, 5:22 PM
Last updated Sep 6, 2026
Wout van Aert secured the stage 15 victory in Córdoba during the Vuelta a España after organizers shortened the route due to extreme heat. Temperatures reportedly reached 44 degrees during the climb, prompting criticism from participants regarding racing conditions. Matthew Brennan expressed concerns over the safety of riders, noting the intensity of the heat compared to indoor working environments. Despite the challenging weather, Enric Mas finished the stage while maintaining his position in the red jersey as the overall leader. The UCI faces scrutiny from competitors for allowing the race to proceed under such thermal stress. No further information regarding adjustments to future stages has been provided following the completion of the sprint finish.
- •Wout van Aert won stage 15 of the Vuelta a España in Córdoba.
- •Race officials shortened the stage distance to mitigate risks from high temperatures.
- •Matthew Brennan stated temperatures peaked at 44 degrees during the opening climb.
- •Enric Mas remains the overall leader in the red jersey.
- •Riders questioned the consistency of UCI safety protocols regarding extreme heat.
- 5:22 PMThe Guardian Sport — ‘What are we doing?’: Brennan’s anger at racing in 44C heat as Van Aert wins shortened stage
"‘It wouldn’t surprise me if some got heatstroke’ Spain’s Enric Mas retains leader’s red jersey Britain’s Matthew Brennan expressed his disbelief at the extreme heat riders had to endure on Sunday during stage 15 of the Vuelta a España. His Visma Lease a Bike teammate Wout van Aert took the sprint win in Córdoba after the stage was shortened because of high temperatures. “It’s 41 degrees average,” Brennan said. “When I was on the climb at the start it was 44, and at that point you start thinking: ‘What are we doing?’ A normal office person has to have the temperature set at 20 degrees or whatever, and I’m sure that the UCI [cycling’s governing body] office will have their 20 as well. Continue reading...
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