Spains Enric Mas wins Vuelta a España in Granada, ending 12-year national drought

Enric Mas of Movistar won the Vuelta a España on Sunday in Granada, ending Spain’s 12-year drought in the race since Alberto Contador’s 2014 victory. The 31-year-old Mallorcan secured the red jersey after the final 112km stage, a circuit in Granada won by Norway’s Tobias Halland Johannessen of Uno-X Mobility.
Mas dominated the race following the early abandonment of pre-race favorite Tadej Pogačar, the two-time world champion, who crashed out on stage eight. With Pogačar sidelined, Mas fended off challenges from four-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglič and Austria’s Felix Gall, ultimately finishing with a 33-second margin over Roglič. He sealed his lead by winning the mountain stage at Alto de Aitana and delivered a strong time trial, a discipline outside his usual strengths.
“This has been the race of my life,” Mas said. He added that he had endured difficult moments but had always dreamed of this victory .
Contador, whose shadow Mas had long raced under, praised the achievement. “Often it seems a performance is worth nothing if you don’t win. Now cycling will finally give Enric Mas the recognition he deserves,” Contador told Spanish newspaper *AS* .
Mas, a three-time Vuelta runner-up, had faced years of pressure to succeed Contador as Spain’s Grand Tour leader. His victory marks the first for a Spanish rider in the race since Contador’s 2014 triumph .
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