Aitana opens a new Vuelta under Enric Mas

The Vuelta a Espana faces one of its hardest days today with a 187.4-kilometre stage from Villajoyosa to Alto de Aitana, featuring six classified climbs and approximately 5,200 metres of elevation gain. The race has been completely reshaped by Tadej Pogacar's withdrawal, leaving Enric Mas in red with Primoz Roglic at 1:00 and Felix Gall at 1:11. Sepp Kuss, Oscar Onley and Richard Carapaz remain just over two minutes behind.

The route offers almost no respite after leaving the coast for the narrow, twisting roads of inland Alicante. El Miserat is the main trap before the finale: 5.2 kilometres at an average gradient of 10%, with ramps reaching 23%. The climbs of Tollos, Tudons and Benifallim follow before the final ascent.

Aitana is approximately 22 kilometres long at 5.8%, with sections up to 13%. Its gradient is not consistently extreme, but the distance, accumulated fatigue and temperatures close to 30 degrees could create major gaps. Movistar must control the race for Mas, while Roglic, Gall, Kuss, Onley and Carapaz all have an opportunity to redraw the general classification.

The stage is scheduled to start at around 12:26 CEST, with the finish expected close to 17:30. It is the final effort before the first rest day and could establish a new hierarchy in a Vuelta that no longer has a dominant favourite.