Without illusions: while Tadej Pogačar was on the road, the fate of the red jersey seemed settled. But as soon as the Slovenian left the race, Enric Mas had to sit the biggest exam of his life against ordinary humans — and he used his historic chance flawlessly.
In cycling, the truth is often harsher than beautiful legends. Ending Spain’s 12-year wait since Alberto Contador is a huge achievement, but the question that troubles a true sports fan is entirely legitimate: would any of this have happened if Tadej Pogačar hadn’t left the race?
The answer is simple and harsh — no.
While Pogi was leading the peloton, Enric Mas was caught up in the same hopeless chase as everyone else. Yes, there was that one flash on El Bartolo, where Enric stayed on the Slovenian’s wheel, but the deficit built up before then and Tadej’s crushing superiority said it all. Pogačar would have adjusted his tactics, and if we recall that in the final mountains Enric could not — or would not — even follow Felix Gall’s acceleration, it isn’t hard to imagine what would have happened had Pogi still been in the peloton.
Vuelta a Espana 2026 – 81st Edition – 6th stage Alcossebre – Castello 177,4 km – 27/08/2026 – Tadej Pogacar (SLO – UAE Team Emirates – XRG) – photo Rafa Gomez/SprintCyclingAgency©2026
But in sport, “what if” doesn’t work. The fact is: the supernatural force left the race, only humans were left on earth, and Enric Mas suddenly found in his hands what he had dreamed of for years — the chance to fight his equals.
The Real Test Against the Clock
Anyone who thinks Mas’s main test came on the mountain finishes is mistaken. In the mountains Enric didn’t overreach — he knew his limits, didn’t chase Gall too hard, took no risks and controlled the situation with a cool head.
Enric’s real psychological inferno and pressure awaited him in the time trial.
Historically, Mas has always struggled in the individual battle against the clock. That is exactly where he used to lose Grand Tours, exactly where his nerves would fail him. This time, however, with the enormous weight of the red jersey Tadej left behind on his shoulders, Mas didn’t falter. He produced the best, most controlled and calculated ride of his life precisely where everyone most expected him to crack.
Spain has its champion back. Not because Enric Mas defeated the gods, but because when the throne of the mortals became vacant, he proved flawlessly, with cold pragmatism and steadiness, that he himself was the best among these humans.
Primož Roglič takes second at the 2026 Vuelta © Getty Sport
This article was prepared with Velorbola’s editorial perspective, with the help of modern analytical and digital tools.
La Vuelta began in Monaco — on the streets of [...]
August 25, 2026
Glasgow, Zurich, Kigali and Montreal! Remco Evenepoel has shattered everything [...]
September 22, 2026
The 273-kilometer meat grinder of Montreal became a triumph of [...]
September 28, 2026
