“I suffered a lot, but I’m taking plenty of positives” - Santiago Buitrago misses out on a stage win but conquers KOM jersey
CyclingSunday, 13 September 2026 at 22:28
Santiago Buitrago closed the Vuelta a España 2026 with one of the race’s big prizes: the mountains jersey. The Bahrain Victorious rider defended the blue-dots jersey all the way to Granada and won a classification he fought for over three weeks.
The mountains triumph is a major reward for Buitrago, especially after a Vuelta in which he had several chances to chase a stage win. The Bahrain rider came close more than once, taking second at Peñas Blancas and another strong result in the high mountains, but finished the race without a stage to celebrate.
Even so, Buitrago leaves the race satisfied after carrying to Granada a jersey he considers especially important for him and for his country. The Colombian expressed his happiness after completing the Vuelta and finally locking down the mountains jersey.
Santiago Buitrago ended the Vuelta a España with a smile after defending the mountains jersey all the way to Granada. The Bahrain Victorious rider could not land the stage victory he chased during the race, but he does leave the Spanish Grand Tour with one of the standout individual prizes.
Santiago Buitrago won the KOM jersey at La Vuelta
“I’m super happy to arrive here in Granada and to have defended this jersey. Taking this jersey home is a source of pride, and I hope everyone back in my country enjoyed it as much as I did,” Buitrago said after finishing the race, in quotes reported by EFE.
The Colombian also acknowledged the huge effort the Vuelta demanded, although he believes the experience leaves a very positive balance. “I suffered a lot, I suffered too much, but I’m taking more good things from what I fought for every day, from the great team we had in this Vuelta. I’m taking beautiful memories,” he added.
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Buitrago narrowly misses out in Peñas Blancas
Buitrago thus puts a full stop on a Vuelta in which he played a key role in both the stage hunt and the mountains fight, though he’s left with the sting of not turning his attacks into a win. At Peñas Blancas, for instance, he finished second after being overhauled by Eddie Dunbar in the final kilometres.
Despite that, the Colombian departs with the recognition of being the race’s best climber and with a jersey that carries special meaning for him. His Vuelta experience, moreover, does not appear to be the last: “I’ll definitely be back,” he concluded.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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