Enric Mas holds Vuelta lead after Landa wins stage 20
Enric Mas all but won the Vuelta a España on 12 September after surviving the brutal penultimate stage in the Sierra Nevada.
The 31-year-old Mallorcan rider for Movistar protected his red jersey over 186km to Collado del Alguacil and will carry a lead of 2 minutes 15 seconds into the final ceremonial stage around Granada, according to the official classification La Vuelta. Only disaster can now deny him Spain's first home Vuelta win in 12 years.
Mikel Landa won the stage. The Soudal–Quick-Step rider clocked 4h 58' 01'' for the run from La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil La Vuelta. It was his first stage win in seven years The Guardian.
Mas started the day with 1 minute 37 seconds over Primoz Roglic. He spent most of the stage in a tight group with Roglic, Felix Gall and Richard Carapaz, refusing to be isolated on the long mountain day The Guardian.
The finish did the damage. The final 9km climb to Collado del Alguacil, a ascent new to the Vuelta and the second Sierra Nevada climb of the day, strung out the favourites. Mas stayed calm and finished with his direct rivals to keep — and slightly extend — his advantage.
The GC — the overall standings decided on total time — now reads clearly. Mas leads in 70h 56' 58''. Roglic, of Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe, is second at 2 minutes 15 seconds. Gall, of Decathlon CMA CGM Team, is third at 2 minutes 44 seconds. Carapaz, of EF Education–EasyPost, is fourth at 6 minutes 54 seconds.
That margin should be safe. The last stage, listed as Carrefour Granada to Granada on 13 September, is ceremonial in nature. By tradition the peloton — the main pack of riders — does not attack the overall leader on the final day into the city.
Mas survived the final real test, Reuters reported. He had taken the lead earlier in the race and extended it with a late attack on stage 12 to Calar Alto, then defended it through three weeks.
What makes this stand out is the wait. Alberto Contador was the last Spanish rider to win the Vuelta, 12 years before Mas's 2026 lead. For a Spanish Movistar leader to close it out so close to home, with Granada's Alhambra as the backdrop, will mean plenty.
One mountain left him standing. One parade lap left to enjoy it.
