Vuelta a España 2026 Stage 9 Race Recap & Analysis | Primoz Roglic & Enric Mas Showdown on Aitana Aitana!

Enric Mas has delivered a huge statement on the Alto de Aitana, winning Stage 9 of the Vuelta a España 2026 and strengthening his grip on the red jersey just one day after Tadej Pogačar's dramatic abandonment. Mas attacked in the final kilometres of the brutal 187.4km mountain stage and held off Oscar Onley, with Primož Roglič finishing third. In this Vuelta a España 2026 Stage 9 Race Recap & Analysis, we break down an incredible day in the mountains, featuring more than 5,000 metres of climbing and the return of the legendary Alto de Aitana. Mas showed he wasn't simply inheriting the red jersey from Pogačar, taking responsibility in the finale and producing one of the biggest victories of his career. We look at Oscar Onley's breakthrough performance, Primož Roglič's fight for a fifth Vuelta title, Felix Gall's aggressive racing and the new-look GC battle following Pogačar's exit. Mas now leads Roglič by 1:18, with Gall a further 21 seconds behind. After Pogačar's incredible dominance earlier in the race, the Vuelta has suddenly been transformed into a completely open Grand Tour. Can Enric Mas hold onto the red jersey all the way to Granada?