Only in Tadej Pogačar’s absence can Enric Mas appreciate how big today’s Vuelta win: ‘So many strange and difficult moments’

Tadej Pogacar’s withdrawal from the Vuelta a España on Saturday came as a shock—to him, to UAE Emirates-XRG, and to the cycling world. Everyone had been enjoying the Slovenian’s triumphant march toward an expected overall victory, but his withdrawal on Sunday during Stage 9 revealed another side to the story. Enric Mas took center stage in what was being called a Vuelta with a new face.

The 31-year-old Mas is the “Mr. Vuelta a España,” as evidenced by three second-place finishes and one third-place finish on his list of achievements. In this year’s Vuelta a España, too, he seemed destined for the podium, and based on the first week, he was a respectable distance behind Pogacar—until, after Saturday, he was suddenly handed the red leader’s jersey.

Mas did not don the leader’s jersey after Stage 8, out of respect for the fallen world champion. He did not feel that he had won the red jersey and therefore deserved it. How much more deserved was that leader’s jersey for him in that regard, when Mas was the only one who could truly break away from the rest in a grueling ninth stage. Oscar Onley (Netcompany INEOS) was able to keep up, but that was the extent of it.

The fact that Mas won the stage was a boost to his confidence and must have reinforced his belief that he is now the deserved leader. Still, the stage victory itself was a particularly welcome boost. He had only won one stage in a Grand Tour before, back in 2018—also in the Vuelta. In the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, his record was limited to podium finishes.

"This is one of the best moments of my career," Mas said, knowing that as a former domestique and lead-out man, he can now actually win. “I really enjoyed it today. The team believed in me, and we wanted to try to win the stage. I’ve had so many strange and difficult moments...”

That’s fair to say. In 2025, Mas was still dealing with phlebitis in his leg, which sidelined him for 20 weeks. It took him a while to get back into the swing of things in 2026. Things didn’t quite come together at the Giro d’Italia, but heading into the Vuelta, his results in Switzerland and Burgos already showed that his strong, traditional Vuelta form was on its way.

Precisely because of his history of physical and mental setbacks, Mas didn’t want to get too carried away after his stage victory. “I felt good right from the start and had 100 percent confidence in myself. We went for the stage and won. I’m going to sleep soundly on the rest day (Monday, ed.) wearing this red jersey, and enjoy myself at dinner tonight.”

In the second and third weeks, Mas will have to try to keep up with the rest of the pack, and that will be tough enough. “I understand Tadej Pogacar better now—this jersey gives you wings,” Mas said with a smile during the flash interview. Then, on a more serious note: “I’m being cautious, because I’ve already had my share of setbacks in my career. You have to take it step by step, but I feel better than ever.”

If Pogacar had been 2 or 3 minutes ahead in a stage like that, we undoubtedly wouldn’t have appreciated Mas’s performance for what it was worth. But now, with no dominant rider in sight, we did. “I was as excited as a kid right from the start, and to win while wearing the red jersey—that’s truly special.”