Spain’s Enric Mas triumphed at the Vuelta a España on Sunday, marking his first title in the prestigious race. The final stage concluded with Tobias Johannessen winning in Granada, capping off the three-week Grand Tour.

At 31 years old, Mas took the red jersey after Tadej Pogacar abandoned the race following a crash on stage eight. He successfully held off four-time champion Primoz Roglic, becoming the first Spaniard to win the Vuelta since Alberto Contador in 2014. In the general classification, Mas finished 2 minutes 15 seconds ahead of Roglic, with Felix Gall taking third, another half-minute back.

Mas celebrated his victory alongside his six Movistar teammates, marking his first Grand Tour win. He secured the title by limiting his losses to Roglic during the individual time trial on Thursday and expanding his lead in the last mountain stage on Saturday.

“I’ve dreamed of this and fought for it,” Mas stated, reflecting on his emotional day. He emphasized the importance of focusing on future objectives despite the victory.

Johannessen clinched the 112km final stage, which began in a supermarket and featured loops around Granada and the Alhambra palace. He outpaced Alessandro Romele and Ramses Debruyne in a sprint finish, although the last 9.8km was neutralized due to safety concerns raised by the riders.

Mas inherited the red jersey from Pogacar, who had been the overwhelming favorite for the win but suffered a severe crash that ended his season. After finishing as runner-up in 2018, 2021, and 2022, Mas faced attacks from Roglic and Gall, proving himself a worthy champion. This victory is significant for Team Movistar, marking their first Vuelta win since Nairo Quintana in 2016.

“The reality is that the team needed a victory like this, and now we have it,” Mas concluded.