Enric Mas has won the 2026 Vuelta a España, claiming the overall title at the end of three weeks of racing. It is his first Grand Tour victory, arriving after three runner-up finishes. He is also the first Spanish champion of the race in over a decade.
Queen stage locks in a career-first title
The 81st Vuelta ran 3,310.6 km from Monaco to Granada. Mas took the red jersey after stage 8, when Tadej Pogačar abandoned, and won the mountain finish at Alto de Aitana the next day. He then defended the lead through the Jerez de la Frontera time trial.
The race was settled on stage 20, the queen stage from La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil. The 187 km route climbed almost 5,000 m and finished on the only Hors Catégorie ascent, with ramps of 22%. Mas began the day just 1:37 ahead of Primož Roglič.
On the final climb Mikel Landa went clear for the stage win, while Felix Gall attacked inside the last kilometre and took 17 seconds. Roglič lost contact and conceded 38 seconds more. By the summit Mas's lead had grown to 2:15.
From perennial runner-up to Vuelta champion
Mas first reached the Vuelta podium in 2018 as a 23-year-old, second behind Simon Yates. He was runner-up again in 2021 and 2022, and third in 2024. Across six appearances between 2018 and 2024, he never finished lower than sixth overall.
"To be honest, I was just counting the kilometres," Mas told reporters after stage 20. "My feeling was super."
At 31, the long-time contender has turned a run of near-misses into a home Grand Tour title. The wait for a Spanish winner ends with him.
