Enric Mas: "Winning La Vuelta is wonderful, I have always dreamed and worked for this"

Relaxed, after knowing that he had achieved the objective for which he had fought so hard in this edition of The Return and for whom he has been dreaming since he decided he wanted to be a professional cyclist. Enric Mas (31 years old) has been the brilliant winner of La Vuelta, after leading the race throughout 14 stages.

Enric Mas, champion of La Vuelta 2026MOVISTAR TEAM

A triumph that comes in his eighth presence in the race that has always welcomed him with open arms, with three second places (2018, 2021, 2022) and a third place (2024), and in which this year he also achieved a great stage victory in one of the most demanding finishes of this year: the Alto de Aitanafrom the ninth day, the first that he wore the leader’s jersey.

Tired and happy at the same time, in front of his family, Mas defined his victory in La Vuelta as “simply special, very special, it has been a day to remember. A special Vuelta and it has been wonderful.

Spain's Enric Mas, center, flanked by his teammates, crosses the finish line during the 21st stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, from Carrefour Granada to Granada, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Marrero) — Triumphant entry of the Movistar team today in Granada)Gregorio Marrero / Ap-LaPresse

A victory that comes after a last stage, in which “there is always that tension of uncertainty about what could happen, but nothing has happened, so we are super happy and have enjoyed every kilometer of today”, and in which, as he added to EFE: “I have simply felt nerves, a day with a mix of emotions, all positive, and now I have to continue with what I do, and I am already thinking about the next goals. In sport sometimes there is no time to enjoy victories. I made my debut in the Vuelta in 2017 and I have always dreamed and worked for this.”

Later, in his speech as champion, from the top of the podium of Grenadethe reference of Movistar Team He said to all the fans gathered, with his teammates and the entire staff not wanting to miss any moment.

-PHOTODAY-LA CALAHORRA (GRANADA) 09/13/2026.- The Spanish cyclist Enric Mas (2i), from the Movistar team, wears the red leader's jersey at the start of the 21st and final stage of the Vuelta ciclismo España with start and finish in Granada, this Sunday. EFE/ Javier Lizón — The four winners of the individual classificationsJavier Lizon / EFE

“There are those to blame for all this, for me being here, in the top drawer, the family, there is half the town there, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you very much. The fans have been ten since we started La Vuelta, so please continue like this, it helps us a lot”, words that were supported by strong applause and a banner fluttering in the wind that read: “Ara i semper. Estem amb tu. Amics Enric More” (Now and always. We are with you. Friends Enric Mas).