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Tadej Pogacar claims his third Vuelta a España stage win in a thrilling finish at Puerto El Bartolo, extending his lead over Enric Mas in a race to complete a Grand Tour grand slam.
The day of the sixth stage of the Vuelta a España delivered a high‑energy performance that saw Polish rider Tadej Pogacar leapfrog Spanish rival Enric Mas to claim his third triumph of the race.
The crossover took place in a field of elite riders, and Pogacar's decisive attack on the final gravel climb at Puerto El Bartolo made the difference between winning and a podium finish. The stage, which began in the city of Castellón de la Plana, stretched over a 155‑kilometre circuit that included a sequence of short uphill sectors as it wound through the Spanish countryside.
After a blistering start that set a tempo for the peloton, a large group of fifteen riders broke away. The composition of the group was diverse, comprising a mix of domestiques, opportunists, and a few classically‑oriented climbers. Over the next 40 kilometres, the break gained a 2½ minute advantage over the main group, creating a scenario that could have seen an unexpected victor etch his name into Vuelta history.
The decisive moment arrived on the final ascent of Puerto El Bartolo, a steep gradient that tested the riders' endurance and technical ability. The break was hit by a brutal gravel sector that appeared ahead of the finish, instantly dividing its members. In a display of sheer will, Pogacar launched himself from the front as the gravel split the group.
Mas, ever a relentless pursuer, followed closely, but Pogacar's leg power cut through the fraction of a second the Spaniard was able to make up. At the top of the climb, Pogacar spurred forward again; the gravel took his wheel in a small misjudgement and for a moment he lost contact with the front.
However, he rebounded alongside Mas, returning to the top of the sector in tandem. In the final kilometres, a quartet made up of four‑time Vuelta winner Primož Roglič, Swiss world champion Geraint Thomas, former world champion Richard Carapaz, and USA's Felix Gall attempted to maintain contact with the leaders. The duo of Pogacar and Mas, however, worked together to preserve their advantage.
Pogacar positioned himself at the front of the line, an act that required strategic riding and the instinct to attack at the right moment. Mas was unable to bridge the gap, leaving Pogacar to cross the finish line a few metres ahead, sealing the stage win and extending his overall lead.
The victory moves Pogacar to the top of the General Classification with a margin of three minutes and 34 seconds over Mas and a four‑minute advantage over Roglič, cementing his place as the favourite to complete the Grand Tour grand slam. Ramses De Bruyne secured the third place in the podium, finishing 46 seconds behind the leaders behind a group containing Key Luca Paganin.
The Vuelta's stage finish by Pogacar has brought the Slovenian superstar back in the spotlight of the race's ultimate goal: claiming all five Grand Tours during his career. With the next stage set to take riders through a 149.8‑kilometre route from Vall D'Alba to the summit finish at Aramon Valdelinares, the competition continues - and the excitement for the Vuelta's climax is only set to build.
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