Enric Mas is on the verge of clinching overall victory in the Vuelta a España after a stellar performance in the penultimate stage held on the challenging slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The 31-year-old rider from Movistar showcased his resilience throughout the grueling 186km stage, maintaining his lead against formidable competitors including Primoz Roglic, Felix Gall, and Richard Carapaz.

With a 1 minute 37 seconds advantage over Roglic after 19 stages, Mas confidently tackled the steep final 9km climb to Collado del Alguacil, even extending his lead as he approached the finish line.

As the race heads into its final ceremonial stage around the city of Granada, Mas is poised to become the first Spanish rider to win the Vuelta since Alberto Contador achieved the feat 12 years ago.

In a remarkable day for Spanish cycling, Mikel Landa of Soudal–Quick-Step secured the stage win, marking his first victory since 2021. Mas, who inherited the red jersey after the crash of race favorite Tadej Pogacar on stage eight, has proven his mettle, effectively shaking off the label of being one of the best Spanish riders never to win a Grand Tour.

The penultimate stage featured:

• Four major climbs, including two ascents of Puerto de El Purche.
• A punishing final climb of Collado del Alguacil, averaging a challenging 9.8% over its last 8.3km.

Despite repeated attacks from Carapaz and threats from Gall, Mas remained composed, ultimately dropping Roglic in the closing kilometers. “It’s the first time in my life I feel like this,” Mas stated. “I was just counting the kilometers. My feeling was super, and the team did a super good job again.”

As it stands, Mas holds a 2 minutes 15 seconds lead over Roglic, with Gall trailing by 2:44.