Spain's Enric Mas solidified his grip on the leader's red jersey with a commanding victory in the ninth stage of the Vuelta a España on Sunday. Following the withdrawal of race leader Tadej Pogacar, Mas, 31, chose not to wear the red jersey during Saturday's podium ceremony out of respect for Pogacar, who remains hospitalized after a crash.

The stage, a challenging 187km uphill route to the summit of Aitana, provided Mas the perfect opportunity to showcase his climbing prowess. With Pogacar out of the race, the competition intensified, and Mas seized the moment to deliver his Movistar team’s first victory on home soil in five years.

Key moments from the race include:

• 3 km from the finish, Mas launched a decisive attack.
• Oscar Onley, a British rider, posed a threat but could not surpass Mas, finishing second.
• Primoz Roglic crossed third, while Felix Gall finished shortly after, maintaining his position in the overall standings.

Mas expressed his joy, stating, "Now I understand Tadej Pogacar, the red jersey gives you wings. Winning while wearing the red jersey is very special."

With this win, Mas extended his lead in the general classification to 1 minute 18 seconds over Roglic. Onley, at just 23 years old, improved his standing, moving up to fourth, 41 seconds behind Gall.

The riders will enjoy their first rest day on Monday before the race resumes with the 10th stage, featuring three category-three climbs over 184km between Alcaraz and Elche de la Sierra. Earlier in the day, Pogacar shared a photo from his hospital bed, wearing a neck brace and accompanied by the Bee Gees' song "Stayin' Alive."