Primoz Roglic sat out the finish sprint on Alto de Aitana on Sunday and rolled home twelve seconds behind Enric Mas, a small loss that leaves him second overall at the Vuelta a Espana 2026 as the race reaches Monday’s first rest day.

Mas, in the red jersey, attacked with three kilometres remaining and held off Oscar Onley to the line to take the stage and stretch his advantage on the rest of the field. The Movistar rider now leads Roglic by 1:18, Felix Gall by 1:39 and Onley by 2:20, with Richard Carapaz next at 3:26.

Roglic gave his usual sparse post-stage assessment to IDL Pro Cycling.

“We can always hope, but I’m super happy, man. I didn’t do much, but it’s wonderful to ride here, out in the fresh air and in good weather.”

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“The climbs were tough, and some riders went too fast, but I’m happy.”

The race that changed on Saturday

The Slovenian’s rise up the standings is the direct consequence of what happened on stage 8. Tadej Pogacar crashed about 32 kilometres from the finish of the Puçol to Xeraco stage on Saturday, going down before the Puerto de Barx and taking several riders with him.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG later confirmed that Pogacar had suffered a concussion, a displaced fracture of the left collarbone, a stable fracture of the C7 vertebra in his neck and multiple abrasions. He was treated in hospital in Gandia before being transferred to Barcelona for planned collarbone surgery, which is on hold until his concussion clears.

Pogacar had been leading the race by 3:50 with three stage wins and seven days in red when he abandoned.

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Roglic on Pogacar

“The Vuelta is undoubtedly wide open, but you never wish something like that on anyone. Above all, I wish him a speedy recovery.”

At 36, he arrived in Spain chasing a fifth overall Vuelta title that would put him clear of Roberto Heras on the all-time list. His preparation had been disrupted by a training crash, and through the first week he lost time on the gravel of Puerto El Bartolo on stage 6 before Pogacar’s abandonment reset his own race.

Stage 10 to Elche de la Sierra

Monday is a rest day. Stage 10 leaves Alcaraz on Tuesday 1 September for a 184.7-kilometre run to Elche de la Sierra, the first day of a second week in which Mas will defend the red jersey against Roglic, Oscar Onley in his first Grand Tour for Netcompany INEOS, and an in-form Gall.

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