“Spanish cycling has an opportunity and we have to take advantage of it”: Former Spanish pro backs Enric Mas to finish La Vuelta in red
CyclingWednesday, 09 September 2026 at 03:00
Enric Mas enters the final stages of the Vuelta a España with the red jersey still firmly on his shoulders, and former Spanish professional Luis León Sánchez believes the country has been handed a rare opportunity to celebrate a home-grown Grand Tour winner. With Tadej Pogacar out of the race, Mas has become the leading Spanish hope in a Vuelta that could mark a turning point for the nation’s men’s road cycling.
Mas retained the overall lead after Tuesday’s stage 16, which ended in a bunch sprint won by Visma | Lease a Bike’s Matthew Brennan. The general classification therefore remains unchanged from Monday, leaving Mas and Movistar in control as the race heads toward its decisive final stages.
Luis León Sánchez has been following the Vuelta from Lanzarote, where he recently competed in the 4 Stage MTB Race Lanzarote.
The former professional swapped his road bike for a mountain bike and combined his competitive instincts with a more relaxed approach, taking one stage victory and finishing second overall behind Denmark’s Kristian Ostergaard.
Luis León Sánchez got 47 professional wins in 21 years as a pro
Sánchez sees a chance for Spanish cycling
Sánchez believes the circumstances surrounding this year’s Vuelta have created an opportunity that Spanish cycling cannot afford to waste. Pogacar’s crash and subsequent abandonment removed the overwhelming favorite from the race, opening the door for Mas to fight for what would be the biggest victory of his career.
“Because of Pogacar's unfortunate crash, Spanish cycling has an opportunity and we have to take advantage of it,” Sánchez told AS.
The former rider is particularly encouraged by Mas’ current level. The Movistar leader has repeatedly insisted that he is riding at the best level of his career, and Sánchez agrees that the 31-year-old appears to have reached a different level during this Vuelta.
“Enric is in the best moment of his career, as he has explained, and now both he and Movistar can return Spanish cycling to the place it deserves. We have had some difficult years.”
Mas has finished second at the Vuelta three times, but the red jersey has continued to elude him. His current position represents another opportunity to change that, although the final week still contains significant challenges.
Spain has continued to produce talented riders, but the gap to the best figures of the last few years has often been difficult to bridge. “Very good riders have emerged, such as Pogacar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel, and here we not only couldn't reach those levels, but we were also putting a lot of pressure on the young riders.”
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A different Luis León Sánchez enjoying his cycling
Sánchez’s comments come during a week in which he has also been enjoying a very different side of the sport. At the Lanzarote MTB race, the former professional showed that his competitive instincts remain intact.
He won one of the four stages and ultimately finished second overall, with Ostergaard taking the men’s general classification. Ismael Ventura completed the podium, while Tessa Kortekaas won the women’s competition ahead of Alba Teruel and Claudia Galicia.
The terrain provided Sánchez with a considerably different challenge from the WorldTour peloton. “It’s not the same to do it in January, like last year, as it is now, at the end of summer. The terrain is too loose, it has been much more technical than last year and more difficult for those of us coming from the road,” he explained.
Yet the former Astana and Rabobank rider was also keen to emphasize how much his relationship with cycling has changed since retirement. “I no longer have the tension I had when I was competing and now I can enjoy the bike and the landscapes. Club La Santa has given me the opportunity to be here and it has been very rewarding.”
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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Rafionain-Glas08-09-2026 - I guess that’s as good as it will get now that you can no longer count on Ineos and Onley seems to have returned to his past level.Jumpyjohn08-09-2026
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