‘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 jerseyBritain’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…

Originally published by The Guardian6 September 2026, 17:22Full licensed article

‘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.