Following world champion Tadej Pogačar’s crash and withdrawal, the Spaniard Enric Mas is now the clear favourite to win the Vuelta overall. The 31-year-old from Mallorca claimed victory in the mountain finish at Alto de Aitana, thereby extending his lead in the general classification. Mas prevailed in the sprint against Britain’s Oscar Onley after 187.4 kilometres. Four-time Vuelta champion Primož Roglič crossed the line in third place, twelve seconds behind.
Pogacar suffered a serious crash on Saturday during the eighth stage whilst wearing the red jersey as the overall leader and was forced to withdraw from the race. In the crash, the road world champion sustained a displaced fracture of his left collarbone and a stable fracture of his seventh cervical vertebra. He also suffered a concussion and numerous grazes. Pogacar is due to undergo surgery in the next few days.
Second Vuelta stage win for Mas
Mas did not want to don the leader’s jersey on Saturday out of respect for Pogacar. “We’ll see if I deserve it,” said Mas. On Sunday, he finally showed his class and secured his second Vuelta stage victory since 2018.
“The red jersey gave me wings. The team did a great job. I felt good in the final. I’m proud and happy. I’ve faced a lot of criticism throughout my career. This is the best response I could have given,” said Mas.
Roglic is focusing on the time trial
Mas now leads Roglic by 1 minute and 18 seconds in the overall standings. However, the Spaniard needs a comfortable lead, as there is still an individual time trial to come in the final week – a discipline in which the Slovenian excels. Third in the overall standings is the Austrian Felix Gall, who trails by 1 minute and 39 seconds.
Following a rest day on Monday, the Vuelta continues on Tuesday with the tenth stage. The riders can expect undulating terrain over the 184.7-kilometre route from Alcaraz to Elche de la Sierra. The tour concludes on 13 September in Granada.
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