The wait ended in Granada. Enric Mas rolled across the line safely on Sunday to complete the 2026 Vuelta a España, 2:15 clear of Primož Roglič and 2:44 ahead of Felix Gall on the final general classification.
For a rider who had already stood on the Vuelta podium four times before this edition, the closing ceremonial stage on the Alhambra circuit was less a coronation than a release.
“It’s just special. It’s been a day to remember, a special Vuelta, and it has been wonderful,” Mas said after the finish, in comments carried by ABC/AP.
“It was a long wait and a long way to today. But to be honest, it was always special Vueltas, and this one I think is the special one.”
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The runner-up who kept coming back
Mas had finished second at his home Grand Tour in 2018, 2021 and 2022, and third in 2024. His breakthrough at 31 makes him the first Spanish winner of the Vuelta since Alberto Contador in 2014.
The Movistar leader inherited the red jersey after Tadej Pogačar crashed out on stage 8 with a broken collarbone and a fractured neck, and defended it to the end.
Roglič denied the record fifth
The margin flattered no one. Roglič, chasing a record-breaking fifth Vuelta title after equalling Roberto Heras on four, could never quite crack Mas on the summit finishes and treated the podium as a bonus.
“For me it’s a victory. I gave my best, I kept getting better,” Roglič told reporters, in remarks reported by CyclingupToDate.
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“When I started the situation was difficult, but I wanted to race the Vuelta. I went day by day and I didn’t imagine being second.”
“I’m happy for Enric Mas as well because he deserves this victory.”
Gall completed the podium for Decathlon CMA CGM, with Richard Carapaz fourth at 6:54 and Sepp Kuss fifth at 8:45.
Johannessen wins in Granada, jerseys settled
The stage 21 finale itself went to Tobias Halland Johannessen of Uno-X Mobility, who outkicked Alessandro Romele and Ramses Debruyne on the finishing circuit, according to the stage report. Race organizers had taken the GC times with 9.8 kilometres remaining, a call that drew criticism from riders who felt the ceremonial framing came too early.
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The secondary jerseys were long settled: Wout van Aert won the points classification on 326 points, Santiago Buitrago took the mountains prize, and Oscar Onley claimed the young rider standings.
Mas next races the road World Championships in Canada.
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