From SI Mexico · · 1m 30s
Enric Mas is one stage from his first Vuelta
A brutal queen stage in the Sierra Nevada left the red jersey intact and Mikel Landa a winner again at 36.
In brief
A brutal queen stage in the Sierra Nevada left the red jersey intact and Mikel Landa a winner again at 36. Mas survived the hardest day of the race with his lead untouched, so barring disaster the Vuelta is his on Sunday in Granada. Originally reported by SI Mexico.
Mas all but has it
After Saturday's queen stage from La Calahorra to the Collado del Alguacil, Enric Mas stands as virtual winner of the Vuelta. Only a disaster stops him taking his first on Sunday.
Landa wins, eleven years on
Mikel Landa, 36, took the stage and his second Vuelta win, the first having come eleven years earlier. The Soudal-Quick Step rider went clear alone at the summit.
The attack at seven kilometres
Landa dropped his last two breakaway companions with seven kilometres left, leaving Norway's Tobias Johannssen second and Belgium's Ramses Debruyne third.
186.8 km, 5,000 metres up
The day packed 5,000 metres of climbing into 186.8 kilometres. Mas defended the red jersey against every other favourite on it.
“Son sensaciones nuevas para mí”
Carapaz and Gall came at him
Richard Carapaz attacked through the stage and Felix Gall tried again near the top of the Collado del Alguacil. Mas answered both and kept the lead.
Roglic runs out of road
Primoz Roglic, chasing a fifth Vuelta, sits second at 2:15, with Gall third at 2:44. Sunday's final stage is 112 km starting and finishing in Granada.
The bottom line
Mas survived the hardest day of the race with his lead untouched, so barring disaster the Vuelta is his on Sunday in Granada.
