Enric Mas wins stage nine on Alto de Aitana to solidify Vuelta a Espana lead

Mountain victory on Alto de Aitana

Movistar rider Enric Mas won the 187.4-kilometre ninth stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Sunday, completing the mountain route from La Vila Joiosa to the summit of Alto de Aitana in 5 hours, 10 minutes, and 40 seconds. The Spanish climber, who took the overall race lead following the withdrawal of Tadej Pogacar on Saturday, defeated British rider Oscar Onley in a two-man sprint finish at the line. Mas recorded an average speed of 36.2 kilometres per hour over a course featuring more than 5,000 metres of elevation gain. The win represents his first stage victory at the Vuelta since 2018 and his first professional victory since the 2022 Giro dell'Emilia. Mas reflected on wearing the red jersey after crossing the finish line.

Now I understand Tadej, the jersey gives you wings.

Decisive attacks on the final climb

The stage featured multiple breakaway attempts across six categorised climbs. A group of 24 riders broke away on the Puerto de Tudos before splintering on the Puerto de Benifallim into a three-rider group containing Pavel Sivakov, Marcel Camprubi, and Alessandro Romele. Sivakov remained clear until the peloton caught him 4.5 kilometres from the summit. Felix Gall and Richard Carapaz initiated attacks from the main general classification group before Mas launched a decisive acceleration with 3.2 kilometres remaining. Onley followed the attack, and after Primoz Roglic briefly bridged across, Mas and Onley accelerated again to contest the finish.

General classification gaps widen

Mas extended his advantage at the top of the overall standings to 1 minute and 18 seconds over Roglic, who finished third on the stage, 12 seconds behind the winner. Gall crossed the line in fourth place at 18 seconds back, dropping to third in the general classification at 1 minute and 39 seconds behind Mas. Onley moved into fourth place overall, 2 minutes and 20 seconds behind the leader, while retaining the white jersey as the best young rider. Among other overall contenders, Mattias Skjelmose placed sixth at 20 seconds, Richard Carapaz finished ninth at 54 seconds, and Sepp Kuss conceded 1 minute and 44 seconds to drop to seventh overall.

Today you saw the team at work. I think we were perfect at every level, from yesterday afternoon until now. We remained very calm throughout the day. I think we handled the situation very, very well. And I felt really good at the end.

Pogacar withdrawal and rest day schedule

Mas had inherited the red jersey on Saturday evening following an accident on stage eight involving Pogacar, who had held a 3-minute-and-50-second lead before falling 33 kilometres from the finish in Xeraco. Pogacar sustained a fractured left collarbone, a cervical vertebra fracture, and a concussion before being transferred to a hospital in Barcelona. Mas declined to wear the leader jersey on the podium on Saturday out of respect for Pogacar before racing in it on Sunday. The Vuelta peloton observes its first rest day on Monday before resuming competition on Tuesday with the 184.7-kilometre tenth stage between Alcaraz and Elche de la Sierra.