Enric Mas has made a show of authority at the Alto de Aitana. The leader of La Vuelta took victory this Sunday in the ninth stage after launching an attack with three kilometers to go that ended up leaving behind his main rivals for the general classification. The triumph also allows the Spanish rider to reinforce the red jersey and open a significant first gap at the front of the race.
Mas faced the day with the responsibility of defending the leadership after Tadej Pogacar's withdrawal in Saturday's stage. Far from limiting himself to controlling his opponents, he decided to go on the attack in the decisive kilometers of the final ascent. According to El Español, the Spaniard accelerated forcefully at three kilometers to go, caught up with the riders ahead, and forced Primoz Roglic to react.
Mas breaks the race three kilometers from Aitana
Roglic was initially able to respond to the red jersey's move and tried to stay on his wheel, but the pace set by Mas ended up being too high. About 1,500 meters from the finish, the Slovenian began to lose contact and the leader was on his way to a victory that completes a day especially important for his aspirations in La Vuelta.
Mas crossed the finish line with a time of 5 hours, 10 minutes, and 40 seconds, at an average speed of 36.2 kilometers per hour. The second position went to the British Oscar Onley, while Roglic finished third 12 seconds behind the winner.
The result has double importance for the Movistar cyclist. On one hand, it represents his first victory in this edition of La Vuelta; on the other, it transforms the leadership he inherited after Pogacar's withdrawal into a lead built directly on the road.
More than a minute lead over Roglic
The general classification is strengthened for Enric Mas. The Spaniard now has 1 minute and 18 seconds over Primoz Roglic, who remains his main pursuer, while Felix Gall is at 1:39.
The difference takes on special relevance because Mas had started the day with barely a minute margin over the Slovenian. His attack in Aitana not only neutralized any attempt by Roglic to close in on the red jersey but also allowed the Balearic to add more seconds to his cushion.
The day thus serves to change the scenario of the race. After Pogacar's accident, La Vuelta had been completely opened and Mas assumed for the first time the obligation to control the rest of the favorites. In Aitana he responded by taking the initiative and demonstrating that he is willing to defend the leadership by attacking.
Aitana crowns the new strong man of La Vuelta
The Alto de Aitana was one of the first major tests to measure how far Mas could go after becoming leader. The response has been decisive: stage victory, time gained over Roglic, and consolidation of the red jersey.
The outcome now places the Spaniard as a reference of a race that has completely changed in just 24 hours. Pogacar's withdrawal eliminated what had until then been the main favorite and opened a battle in which Roglic, Gall, and other contenders had been separated by narrow margins.
Mas has used Aitana to start establishing differences. There is still a lot of mountain left and the classification remains open, but the Spaniard leaves the ninth stage in a significantly more comfortable position than at the start of the day.
Enric Mas is no longer just the provisional leader after Pogacar's withdrawal: in Aitana he has won, attacked his direct rivals, and increased his lead in the general classification. La Vuelta now enters a new phase with the Spanish rider in red and with Roglic forced to recover more than a minute if he wants to take the leadership away from him.