Tadej Pogačar reinforced his dominance at the 81st Vuelta a España by capturing his third stage victory on the gravel roads of the Puerto El Bartolo, extending his overall race lead to 3 minutes and 34 seconds over Spain’s Enric Mas. According to race reports, the world champion launched a decisive attack on the final climb of the 177.4-kilometer stage, before outsprinting Mas to the finish line.
Gravel Roads and a Late Scare on Puerto El Bartolo
The sixth stage presented the peloton with a uniquely demanding route featuring loose gravel surfaces across the Puerto El Bartolo. Despite the controlled strategy, the race nearly unraveled for the five-time Tour de France champion on a hazardous descent. Reports from the route indicate that Pogačar misjudged a corner roughly 19 kilometers from the finish line, briefly veering off the tarmac before quickly recovering his composure and rejoining the front group.
Sprint Finish Defeats Mas
An earlier breakaway group had managed to carve out a comfortable advantage of several minutes during the intermediate phases of the day. Though Enric Mas managed to bridge the gap and latch onto the wheel of the yellow jersey, the Spanish rider proved entirely powerless in the subsequent sprint to the finish. The stage victory marks Pogačar’s third of this year’s Spanish Grand Tour, echoing his blistering start at the 2019 Vuelta where he also claimed three stage wins as a 19-year-old.
Chasing History and the Vuelta Record
With this latest triumph, Pogačar sits firmly atop the general classification standings, holding a 3:34 advantage over Mas. Of cycling’s three traditional Grand Tours, the Vuelta a España remains the only one where Pogačar has yet to secure the overall general classification crown. Having already conquered the opening individual time trial in Monaco and a grueling mountain stage to Andorra, the 27-year-old rider continues to distance himself from the rest of the elite field.
Stage 7 Mountain Arrival Awaits
The race moves forward immediately as the peloton prepares for the seventh stage. Riders will contest a 149.8-kilometer route stretching from Vall d’Alba to Aramon Valdelinares, which features a demanding first-category summit finish.
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