Spain celebrated a remarkable day at the Vuelta a España as Enric Mas defended his red jersey and Mikel Landa captured an emotional victory on the Collado del Alguacil during a challenging penultimate stage.

Mas, poised to become the first Spanish winner since Alberto Contador in 2014, extended his lead over Primoz Roglic by 38 seconds on the 187km route from La Calahorra, now boasting an overall advantage of two minutes and 15 seconds.

Landa, who was visibly emotional, marked his second career Vuelta stage win, a significant achievement considering it has been 11 years since his first and seven years since his last stage win in any race. After suffering a broken pelvis earlier in the season at the Itzulia Basque Country, Landa showed resilience, improving throughout the Vuelta. He executed a decisive attack, breaking away from Tobias Johannessen with just six and a half kilometres remaining.

As the race progressed, Roglic appeared ready to challenge Mas's grip on the red jersey, with his team applying pressure as they approached the final climb. However, when Felix Gall attacked, Roglic faltered, allowing Mas to follow and secure his lead.

The stage highlighted not only Mas's potential triumph but also Landa's inspiring comeback, showcasing the depth of talent in Spanish cycling.