Enric Mas has only the final stage of the 2026 Vuelta a España left before a possible first Grand Tour victory. On Saturday, in the Sierra Nevada, the Movistar rider came through the last hard day in the mountains and stretched his overall lead to two minutes and 15 seconds over Primož Roglič. The stage itself went to Mikel Landa, who attacked from the break on Collado del Alguacil.

The race winner has not yet been confirmed. Stage 21 follows on Sunday, 13 September, around Granada. Under ordinary racing conditions the Movistar leader is very close to overall victory — but it is not official until the last stage is finished.

The last major mountain test

Stage 20, from La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil, covered 186.8 kilometres and almost 5,000 metres of elevation, with five categorised climbs. The final Hors Categorie ascent includes an 8.3-kilometre stretch averaging about 9.8%, with ramps of up to 22%. Mas started the day 1 minute 37 seconds ahead of Roglič after Friday’s stage.

Mas keeps the red jersey

Richard Carapaz and Sepp Kuss attacked from a long way out, with about 100 kilometres remaining. Felix Gall was the strongest in the last two kilometres of the finish climb and took 17 seconds out of Mas. Roglič lost more: 55 seconds to Gall. Mas finished 14th on the stage, 6:54 behind Landa, but still distanced the Slovenian in the closing kilometres. The organisers’ official general classification after 20 stages reads: Enric Mas (Movistar) 70h 56' 58''; Roglič +2:15; Gall +2:44. Next are Carapaz, at 6:54, and Kuss, up to fifth at 8:45.

Landa’s second Vuelta stage win

The Soudal Quick-Step rider joined the break and went clear with seven kilometres to the summit. He finished alone in 4h 58' 01'', at 37.6 km/h. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) was second, 47 seconds back; Ramses Debruyne (Alpecin-Premier Tech) third, at 1:27. It is Landa’s second Vuelta stage win, eleven years after the first, at Cortals d’Encamp in Andorra in 2015. The organisers described it as a revival after his hardest season.

A significant day for Spanish cycling

Spain therefore had both the stage and the red jersey. If Mas completes Sunday’s stage without incident, the country will have a Vuelta winner again after 12 years. Alberto Contador was the last Spaniard to win the race, in 2014. Mas, 31, has stood on the Vuelta podium several times — including runner-up finishes in 2018, 2021 and 2022 — without yet winning a Grand Tour. A 2026 success, if confirmed, would be the biggest result of his career.

Pogačar left the race on stage eight

The general-classification fight changed after Tadej Pogačar’s withdrawal. The pre-race favourite crashed in the peloton on stage eight, from Puçol to Xeraco, tried to remount, then had to abandon. The organisers recorded injuries to his left arm and shoulder; we are not adding further medical detail. Mas took the red jersey after that stage and has defended it since.

The 2026 Vuelta a España finishes on Sunday. Mas starts the last day 2:15 ahead of Roglič. A new article will follow the official final classification — not before.

Photo: Enric Mas in the red jersey of the 2026 Vuelta, on Puerto de Tudons during stage 9 (30 August 2026). This is not a photograph from Collado del Alguacil or stage 20. Author: Yannick Arts, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Source consulted: Landa and Mas revive Spanish delights (La Vuelta, stage 20). Official classification: Rankings — Stage 20 (La Vuelta). Pogačar withdrawal: Coquard sprints to victory; Pogacar abandons (La Vuelta, stage 8).