Enric Mas’s hold on the red jersey came under serious threat during stage thirteen of the Vuelta a España 2026. The mountain route from Almuñécar to Loja exposed his limits. With 12 kilometers left, his late attack cost him seconds to Primoz Roglic and other rivals. The gap is now slim, and with a time trial coming up, every second matters.
The stage encouraged aggressive racing. Ten riders broke away early, including Cristian Rodríguez, the only Spaniard in the group. Vermaerke, Brennan, Bisiaux, Berthet, Guillaume Martin, Kron, Leknessund, Albanese, Craps, and Rodríguez set a hard pace. A chase group of 32 riders hovered a minute and a half behind, while the basic peloton, led by Movistar, stayed more than four minutes back. Movistar’s plan was clear: protect Mas and keep the race under control. After stage 9, Mas became the first Spaniard to wear the red jersey since Jesús Herrada in 2018, following Tadej Pogacar's withdrawal after a crash.
Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates) tried to break clear on a steep ramp with 57 kilometers to go, but the other escapees quickly reeled him in. The breakaway kept attacking, while the real tension built in the group of favorites. Mas looked tired after his failed attack. He still leads, but Roglic is closing in. With the time trial ahead, Mas needs a bigger cushion. Less than two minutes could put his lead in danger.
Elsewhere, Tobías Johannessen stayed out of the spotlight and was not expected to contest the stage. David de la Cruz crashed but got back on his bike after a quick change, a reminder of how tough the day was. The route included the climb to Venta de la Cebada, a first-category ascent that thinned the front group. Official race data lists stage 13 as a 192.8 km route from Almuñécar to Loja, with 3,277 meters of elevation gain. It was a challenging mountain stage with a flatter finish than many expected, and it concluded around 17:30 CEST. The route favored breakaways, but Movistar and the other favorites’ teams never let things get out of hand.
Strategy now matters most. Roglic, a strong time trialist, is ready to capitalize if Mas falters. The next stages, including climbs to La Pandera and Peñas Blancas, could shake up the standings further. Commentators Estructura González and Jesús Mariano Martín have been breaking down every move and weighing in on the shifting battle for the red jersey.
Incidents and setbacks have shaped this Vuelta before, as earlier reports of crashes on Spanish roads show. Today, though, the focus was on calculated aggression and GC contenders fighting for every advantage.
As the Vuelta a España 2026 enters its most decisive stretch, Mas’s lead is measured in seconds and by how much fight he has left. The next few days will show whether his team can hold off Roglic and the rest. The race remains wide open, and the mountain stages ahead will determine who can handle the pressure and seize a chance.
