The Vuelta isn't over yet - The key battles that remain as red jersey fight, podium struggle and classification standings make for exciting finale
CyclingFriday, 11 September 2026 at 13:03
The Vuelta a Espana is far from over. With two brutal mountain stages and a classics-style finale in Granada, all could still change in most of the key classifications in the Spanish Grand Tour. And with good reason.
A brutal finale is in store for the general classification men. Friday's stage 19 features over 4000 meters of climbing and an 18 kilometer climb to the finish while Saturday's penultimate stage is a best.
4800 meters of climbing over 187 kilometers is just the description - there's three massive 8 kilometer long tests with averages over 8 percent gradient. The summit finish ends it all with 8 kilometers at almost 10 percent average. With bonus seconds, multiple descents and plenty of opportunities to attack, it's sure to cause huge gaps in the top ten of GC.
With the red jersey battle still yet to be decided, and the podium now also possibly a talking point, there's plenty more action to come at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana.
Enric Mas and Primoz Roglic battle for the red jersey
With stage 19 beginning what is expected to be Primoz Roglic's last stand at making Vuelta history, Enric Mas boasts 1:37 of a lead after an impressive time trial. But Roglic and Red Bull won't pack up their challenge just yet.
A rider who likes to attack on both climbs and descents, Roglic will at least make sure that Mas is a worthy winner of the 2026 Vuelta. The experienced Movistar leader has rode out of his skin the past two weeks after taking the red jersey, distancing the Slovenian on several climbs throughout the race.
But anything can happen in cycling. And with a gruelling multi-mountain finale on Saturday, Roglic will try to crack Mas whatever way possible as fans look forward to a grandstand GC climax.
Enric Mas crosses the line at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
Potential podium surge?
The podium could also come into play for riders in the top ten who could capitalise on attacking moves. With the time trial bringing Felix Gall in third a little closer to Richard Carapaz and Oscar Onley in 4th and 5th, they could sense an opportunity.
For Carapaz, attacking on a multi-mountain stage is not something he's afraid to do. If anythingm, the EF leader would have had these two stages circled for a late GC raid in terrain tailor-made to his capabilities. If Carapaz was to attack on a penultimate climb, or early in a stage, he could benefit from hesitation among the top three riders looking at eachother to pace.
Oscar Onley and INEOS could be well served by adopting a similar level of aggression. Gall's Decathlon are weaker than the opening week of the race and the Austrian is just far enough ahead of the young British rider that he could allow him to gain an initial gap in an attack - If Onley has good legs, it's an opportunity to capitalise.
Classifications set to be decided
Wout van Aert has seemigly wrapped up the points classification due to one crucial factor. His nearest rival is his teammate Matthew Brennan and the next closest is 135 points behind. But there's other jerseys at stake in the final days.
Santiago Buitrago wears the KOM jersey, and seems good value for it. However, if van Aert was to switch focus and get in some breakaways he could find a real battle on his hands. Likewise, the Bahrain rider needs to avoid a general classification feast of points as Enric Mas looms just over 40 points behind.
Elsewhere, Oscar Onley has earned himself a bit more breathing space in the white jersey battle. He's 57 seconds ahead of Jakob Omrzel in the young rider's classification after putting around 27 seconds into the Slovenian on Thursday.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- I swear to god if Roglic does the same thing to Mas as he did to Thomas at the Giro, I'll fkn cry. LET HIM HAVE ONE, ROGLAwrsty11-09-2026
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- You’re going to have to come to correct often, CHF is dropping like a Tête de Moine rolling down from Bellelay.Mistermaumau10-09-2026
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- Thought you you retired cuz your golden boy is out for the year? Dang now we get more of your nonsense for free!frieders310-09-2026
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