MADRID, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Matthew Brennan of Visma-Lease a Bike won a bunch sprint at the end of the second stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Sunday, while Tadej Pogacar extended his overall lead.
The 21-year-old British sprinter, who recently won two stages at the Tour of Burgos, claimed his first Grand Tour stage victory by several bike lengths. Pau Delgado of Bahrain Victorious finished second, with UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Pogacar third.
Pogacar's third-place finish extended his overall lead to nine seconds over Wout van Aert of Visma-Lease a Bike, who attempted to spring a surprise with an attack on a short climb just over a kilometer from the finish.
The result was particularly frustrating for Ethan Hayter of Soudal Quick-Step, who had looked set to take the overall leader's red jersey.
Hayter, who finished just a fraction of a second behind five-time Tour de France winner Pogacar in Saturday's opening-stage time trial, was part of a three-man breakaway during the 214-kilometer second stage between Monaco and Manosque.
The Briton won the intermediate sprint and collected a six-second time bonus, which temporarily put him in position to take the overall lead.
However, his efforts in the breakaway took their toll, and Hayter was unable to stay with the main group following Van Aert's late attack. He eventually finished several seconds behind Pogacar and banged his handlebars in frustration after crossing the line.
The race crosses into Spain on Monday with a demanding mountain stage from Gruissan-Aude to Font-Romeu. The route features around 2,000 meters of climbing over the final 50 kilometers before a hilltop finish that could offer Pogacar an opportunity to extend his overall lead. ■