“This is not what we had hoped for" - Primoz Roglic and Red Bull face unexpected Vuelta a Espana scenario in red jersey chase
Cycling
The Vuelta a Espana is headed towards its business end. With just seven stages remaining and the general classification fight narrowing down to fewer contenders, Primoz Roglic sits in third place and not far off the pace.
The veteran is 2:10 off the pace set by Enric Mas, who has looked assured and among the strongest on all the major climbing tests so far. Since taking the red jersey on stage 8, the Movistar rider has gradually extended his lead on Roglic, second placed Felix Gall and others in the top ten of the overall classification.
With Gall and Mas finishing together on stage, Roglic shipped 25 seconds to the pair. His team manager Patxi Vila, who previously hinted of a final week surge from the Slovenian, has admitted that it seems impossible to rival Enric Mas.
“This is not what we had hoped for,” he told l'Équipe.
Impossible to compete with Mas
“So far it has proven impossible to compete with Mas, but it is not over until it is over. It is still a long way to the end, but he is very strong and hard to beat."
Looking ahead, a stage 18 time trial next week is a serious opportunity for the Slovenian to take time on his GC rivals, and Vila knows that they have specifically worked on that before the race.
Despite suffering a setback in preparation for the race in the form of a crash. Roglic has grown into the race, and it's not a case of feeling off his pace, but that Enric Mas is operating on a level above - particularly in terms of consistency.
Primoz Roglic at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
Roglic feeling good despite time losses
“The time trial is very important for the team. We have worked hard on it and have improved a lot, so we hope to do well here as well.
“Primoz feels good, but Mas is better than him on the climbs. We have to accept that he is hard to beat. He is more on equal footing with Felix, but Mas is showing a remarkably consistent level."
Sunday's stage 15 has been shortened due to extreme heat in Andalusia. Now set to feature 110 kilometers and some less demanding climbing compared to Saturday's feast, it could be another day for the breakaway in Spain.
The organisers said: "Due to the high temperatures forecast for tomorrow, La Vuelta has modified the route of stage 15 following the activation of the extreme weather protocol."
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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