Mas holds red as Roglič moves to second

Enric Mas retained the red jersey after limiting his losses to Primož Roglič in the stage 18 time trial of La Vuelta 2026. Roglič gained 33 seconds over the Spaniard on the 32.1-kilometre course and moved into second overall, but Mas still holds a 1:37 advantage with three stages remaining. Felix Gall dropped to third at 3:01, with Richard Carapaz fourth at 5:17 and Oscar Onley fifth at 6:03.

Roglič took 22 seconds from Mas by the first checkpoint and increased the difference to 36 seconds at the second. Mas paced the final section strongly, completing the last 10 kilometres three seconds faster than the Slovenian and preventing a more damaging loss. The race now returns to the mountains with Friday's 210-kilometre stage to Peñas Blancas, whose final climb is 18.8 kilometres at an average gradient of 6.5%.