{"id":262086,"date":"2026-09-11T17:03:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T17:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/11\/stage-20-of-vuelta-a-espana-will-be-pivotal-for-leader-enric-mas\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T17:03:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T17:03:09","slug":"stage-20-of-vuelta-a-espana-will-be-pivotal-for-leader-enric-mas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/11\/stage-20-of-vuelta-a-espana-will-be-pivotal-for-leader-enric-mas\/","title":{"rendered":"Stage 20 of Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a will be pivotal for leader Enric Mas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p id=\"elk-aaa1778e-ae02-11f1-8b27-4307d3cd2278\"><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/enric-mas\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/enric-mas\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/enric-mas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enric Mas<\/a> remained comfortably in red on Friday&#8217;s first of two decisive final mountain top finishes in the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/vuelta-a-espana\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/vuelta-a-espana\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/vuelta-a-espana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/a>, but he recognised that surviving Saturday&#8217;s mammoth <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/vuelta-a-espana-2026-stage-20-preview\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/vuelta-a-espana-2026-stage-20-preview\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/vuelta-a-espana-2026-stage-20-preview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stage 20<\/a> through the Sierra Nevada is key to overall success.<\/p>\n<p>The Alto de Pe\u00f1as Blancas summit climb on Friday saw Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Decathlon CMA CGM lay down a steady pace for their respective leaders and the closest rivals to Mas overall, Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d and Felix Gall, while EF Education-EasyPost&#8217;s Juan Felipe Rodr\u00edguez Contreras also put in a lengthy spell on the front for Richard Carapaz.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<aside data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"ecom-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"elk-aaa1778e-ae02-11f1-8b27-4307d3cd2278-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But beyond one testing acceleration by Rogli\u010d close to the summit, to which Mas responded easily, and Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) dropping back yet again and sliding to ninth in the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/vuelta-a-espana-gc-standings-from-yellow-to-red-tadej-pogacar-takes-leaders-jersey-on-opening-day\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/vuelta-a-espana-gc-standings-from-yellow-to-red-tadej-pogacar-takes-leaders-jersey-on-opening-day\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/vuelta-a-espana-gc-standings-from-yellow-to-red-tadej-pogacar-takes-leaders-jersey-on-opening-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GC standings<\/a>, there was no real GC action.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel=\"\" data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\\\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\\\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header=\"\">\n<p><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-mobile\"\/><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The lack of time gaps leaves any last-minute change on the Vuelta GC hinging on Saturday&#8217;s brutally difficult four category 1 and hors categorie ascents, and once again Mas will be at the centre of any last-minute assault on the overall.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Both Rogli\u010d and Carapaz are clearly looking restless in terrain they know very well &#8211; and over climbs where Carapaz launched a long-distance attack to gain two minutes in the 2024 Vuelta.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold&#10;        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Even if Mas described stage 20 as &#8220;possibly the most important of his career,&#8221; the Movistar racer&#8217;s relaxed demeanour after the stage did not suggest that he was in any way stressing about it.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;One more day of concentration and that&#8217;s it,&#8221; Mas told reporters afterwards. &#8220;Today was a complicated stage, long and with a lot of climbing, but I felt good. It&#8217;s the end of the season; logically everything takes its toll, but one more day is all that&#8217;s really left.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-wwKCniWF65VeNbZrTwNeNY\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-wwKCniWF65VeNbZrTwNeNY slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The 31-year-old said he knows what is in store, with three major climbs &#8211; one, El Puerto de El Purche, tackled twice &#8211; and then the Puerto de El Duque and the Alto del Alguacil to follow.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Mas, like so many other riders in the peloton, has trained at altitude in nearby Sierra Nevada, so going to recon the Vuelta&#8217;s toughest single mountain stage almost inevitably formed part of the program.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We all spend time there doing altitude training, and so everybody knows the climbs,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m expecting a near-replica of today, but with more mountain passes and 4,800 metres of vertical climbing.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold&#10;        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;There will be a big fight at the start to get in the break, then things should stabilise, and after that we&#8217;ll be going flat out again in the finale.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">On Friday&#8217;s stage, Mas was forced to use his troops to reel in a very active Carapaz, who tried a similar move to the one in Calar Alto, attacking from 95 kilometres to go along with Visma-Lease a Bike&#8217;s Sepp Kuss.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Two Grand Tour winners going up the road was not something that Movistar could afford to see happening, particularly given Carapaz&#8217;s ability to rip up the script at any given moment, but Mas said it was not an overly complicated scenario to handle.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\u201cIt was a big war,\u201d Mas said. \u201cBut we always had somebody with me, so I think we had everything under control. Sepp and Richie really wanted to go for it, maybe more for the stage, but they are a bit close in the GC, so we had to control them.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;But I think you saw my team handling it, they did a super good job again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The high mountains of Granada arguably represent a much bigger challenge for Mas and his team than the sierras of Malaga, but for now the 31-year-old is a day closer to the biggest win of his career and has yet to show any signs of weakness. At this point, it&#8217;s a case of &#8211; so far, then, so very good.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>For unbeatable coverage across road, gravel and tech, subscribe to Cyclingnews. You&#8217;ll get comprehensive race coverage of La Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, subscriber-exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <\/strong><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-article-category=\"pro-cycling\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/subscription-paid\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=LV26\" rel=\"noopener\"><u><strong>Join today.<\/strong><\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/tomorrow-could-be-the-most-important-day-of-my-career-stage-20-of-vuelta-a-espana-will-be-pivotal-for-leader-enric-mas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Enric Mas remained comfortably in red on Friday&#8217;s first of two decisive final mountain top finishes in the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, but he recognised that surviving Saturday&#8217;s mammoth stage 20 through the Sierra Nevada is key to overall success. The Alto de Pe\u00f1as Blancas summit climb on Friday saw Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Decathlon CMA CGM [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":262087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6804],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-262086","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=262086"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262086\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/262087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=262086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=262086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=262086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}