Enric Mas makes Mallorca proud with Vuelta a España victory after 12 years of heartbreak

After years of near misses, heartbreak and three runner-up finishes, Enric Mas has finally reached the top of Spanish cycling.

The Mallorcan rider has won the 2026 Vuelta a España, becoming the first Spaniard to claim the country’s biggest cycling race since Alberto Contador in 2014.

The 31-year-old Movistar star secured the red jersey after three weeks of racing, ending one of the longest waits of his career and giving Spanish cycling fans a victory they had been waiting more than a decade to celebrate.

A dream finally realised

Mas had already come agonisingly close to winning the Vuelta.

He finished second in 2018, 2021 and 2022, while a third-place finish in 2024 added to the feeling that the title might always remain just beyond his reach.

This time, however, the Mallorcan was able to withstand the pressure and maintain his advantage through the decisive final stages.

His breakthrough was particularly impressive given the strength of the field. Four-time Vuelta champion Primoz Roglic finished second overall, while Austria’s Felix Gall completed the podium.

Mas had taken control of the race after Tadej Pogacar abandoned following a crash, and he subsequently demonstrated the consistency needed to protect his lead through the remaining mountain stages.

A powerful finish in Granada

The penultimate stage proved crucial.

Mikel Landa produced a spectacular solo victory on the brutal climb to Collado del Alguacil, but Mas successfully defended the red jersey and effectively secured overall victory heading into Sunday’s finale.

The final stage in Granada was more about celebration than a last-minute battle for the general classification.

Norwegian Tobias Halland Johannessen claimed the stage victory after winning the sprint between the final breakaway riders, securing his first stage win in a Grand Tour.

Mas crossed the finish line safely with his Movistar teammates before finally celebrating the achievement that had eluded him for so long.

A huge moment for Mallorca

For Mallorca, Mas’ victory carries an added sense of pride.

Born in Artà, the cyclist began his journey in the sport through his local cycling school before progressing through the Alberto Contador Foundation and eventually joining Movistar.

His Vuelta triumph now puts a Mallorcan name at the top of one of cycling’s three Grand Tours.

The victory also marks an important moment for Spanish cycling, which had been waiting since Contador’s 2014 triumph for another home-grown rider to win La Vuelta.

Mas admitted after the race that the victory was something he had dreamed about and worked towards for years, with his family and supporters playing a major role in helping him through the difficult periods of his career.

After repeatedly coming close, Enric Mas can finally call himself a Grand Tour winner.

And for Spanish cycling fans, the wait is finally over.