Enric Mas won stage nine of the Vuelta a España, a punishing 187km climb to the summit of Aitana, strengthening his grip on the race leader's red jersey. The Spaniard inherited the lead after overwhelming favourite Tadej Pogačar withdrew following a crash on stage eight that will require surgery, and Mas had pointedly declined to wear the jersey on Saturday's podium out of respect for his rival.

Attacking three kilometres from the finish, the three-time Vuelta runner-up held off Britain's Oscar Onley to claim only his second career stage win and his Movistar team's first victory on home soil in five years. Mas now leads the general classification by one minute 18 seconds over Primož Roglič, with Felix Gall third and Onley moving up to fourth. The riders have a rest day on Monday before stage ten, a 184km route with three category-three climbs between Alcaraz and Elche de la Sierra.