Spaniard Enric Mas triumphed at the Vuelta. © ANSA / Javier Lizon

First Spanish victory since Contador: Mas wins the Vuelta

Enric Mas won the 82nd Vuelta, securing the first Spanish victory since Alberto Contador in 2014.

September 13, 2026

From: dpa

The 31-year-old secured the overall victory on the final stage of 112 kilometers, starting and finishing in Granada, and triumphed ahead of four-time Vuelta champion Primoz Roglic from Slovenia and Austrian Felix Gall.

The 21st and final stage was won by Norwegian Tobias Halland Johannessen. The times for the overall classification had already been frozen before the final lap, approximately ten kilometers from the finish. This was in response to a request from the riders, who had warned of the dangerous course.

Mas will have to wait a long time for a Vuelta coup.

After three second-place finishes and one third-place finish, Mas finally pulled off a major coup in front of his home crowd. The Mallorcan also benefited from the fact that superstar Tadej Pogacar, who was clearly in the lead, crashed on the eighth stage and had to abandon the race.

Austrian Felix Gall finished the Vuelta a España in third place. © APA/AFP/JORGE GUERRERO / JORGE GUERRERO

“I had a blast throughout the entire Vuelta. Everything went perfectly, I enjoyed every kilometer,” said Mas, adding: “I experienced many difficult moments during that time, but winning a Vuelta without suffering is impossible. You work towards experiencing a day like this. It’s what I dreamed of.”