Brenner wins Vuelta stage 14 Mas extends lead

Enric Mas solidified his grip on the Vuelta a España lead Saturday, extending his advantage on a punishing stage 14 that saw German rider Marco Brenner claim his first Grand Tour stage victory. The 154.5-kilometer route from Jaén to the summit finish of Sierra de la Pandera proved decisive in both the battle for the stage win and the overall classification. Brenner, 24, emerged from a large early breakaway to outduel Santiago Buitrago in the final kilometer. It marked a significant career milestone for Brenner, who spoke of overcoming early-race sickness and a crash. "I really wanted to show myself and my teammates that I can be up there," Brenner said. "On the final climb I could feel that I actually have the kick today, and in the end I started believing it." While the stage win was decided among the breakaway riders, the general classification contenders battled fiercely on the steep, demanding slopes of the Sierra de la Pandera. Mas, wearing the leader's red jersey, accelerated away from his main rivals in the closing kilometers. He gained 25 seconds on four-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic, who slipped from second to third overall.