Figueras (Spain) (AFP) - British sprinter Ethan Vernon won a mass sprint on the Tour of Catalonia on Tuesday, followed over the line at Figueres by teenage compatriot Matthew Brennan.

After a four hour and 16 minute, 177km run, from Banyoles that included two mountains, the peloton was largely grouped as it raced at up to 70kph toward the finish line in Figueres.

Israel Premier-Tech’s Vernon had been dropped in the mountains but kept calm to work his way back before the finish line in front of the Salvador Dali museum, the surrealist painter’s former home, a pink castle decorated by golden eggs.

“It was a very fast finish so a bit like a track sprint,” said the 24-year-old winner. “We must have been going over 80 kph, it was super fast! In the end, it helped me. I was a bit on the limit, but I held on. It’s great! I’d been chasing a victory for a while.”

The runner-up spot means Visma rider Brennan, just 19, retains the overall lead by 6sec from Australian Kaden Groves.

The seven-day race will be decided over three mountain stages on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Home hope Juan Ayuso of UAE is the man to beat after his Tirreno-Adriatico triumph in Italy. He sat fifth overall Tuesday, 13sec off the lead.

In the absence of champion Tadej Pogacar, the other 2024 podium finishers, Spain’s Mikel Landa and Colombian former Tour de France winner Egan Bernal, could also contend.

Wednesday’s 218km run from Viladecans has a mountain-top finish at La Molina.

The leading climbers are nearly all competing including Primoz Roglic, twins Simon and Adam Yates, Richard Carapaz and Enric Mas as they prepare for the Tour de France.

The race ends in Barcelona Sunday with the ascent of Montjuic to the Olympic stadium.

The 1992 Olympic stadium where FC Barcelona currently play, will also be home to the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2026.