GRANADA: Spanish rider Enric Mas said that his first Vuelta a Espana triumph was ‘special’ after he secured the title on Sunday in Granada.
The 31-year-old Movistar rider, who took the red jersey after Tadej Pogacar abandoned following a crash on stage eight, held off four-time champion Primoz Roglic to become the first Spaniard to win the Vuelta since Alberto Contador in 2014.
‘It was a long wait and a long way today, but to be honest, it was always special (La Vuelta), and this one I think is the special one,’ said Mas.
‘It’s just special. It’s been a day to remember, a special Vuelta, and it has been wonderful,’ he continued.
‘There’s always tension about what could happen, but you saw it all went smoothly, so we’re delighted and we enjoyed every kilometre today.
Home favourite Mas, a three-time Vuelta runner-up, finished 2mins 15sec ahead of Roglic in the general classification, with Felix Gall third, a further half-minute behind.
Tobias Johannessen won the 21st and final stage in Granada, bringing the three-week Grand Tour to a close.-AFP