Enric Mas passes the decisive time trial with flying colours: Roglič takes just 33 seconds back and moves up one place in the La Vuelta 2026 GC

Stefan Küng has won the time trial of stage 18 of the Vuelta a España 2026, but the big news of the day was a few places behind. Enric Mas has excelled in the terrain most favorable to Primož Roglič. The leader of the Vuelta only lost 33 seconds to the Slovenian and retains the red jersey with a 1:37 advantage with three stages to go.

Stefan Küng wins the time trial and Enric Mas maintains the lead

The 32.1 kilometers between El Puerto de Santa María and Jerez de la Frontera had been marked for days as one of the decisive moments of this Vuelta. A practically flat, fast route with long straights where the great specialists had one of their best opportunities to win.

One of the first important times came from Ethan Hayter, who clocked 35:54, but his record lasted little at the front. Callum Thornley surprised with a great time trial and lowered the time to 35:25, 29 seconds better than the British rider from Soudal Quick-Step.

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João Almeida also threatened his lead and finished just six seconds behind, before one of the day's big favorites appeared.

Stefan Küng stopped the clock at 35:22, enough to surpass Thornley by just three seconds. The Swiss confirmed that the Jerez course suited his characteristics perfectly and ended up achieving victory.

Behind, Wout van Aert completed a good performance to finish fifth, 20 seconds back, while Finn Fisher-Black was sixth and Bruno Armirail seventh.

Roglič cuts time, but Mas holds on much better than expected

With the stage victory practically decided, all attention shifted to the last riders and the battle for the red jersey. Primož Roglič started third overall, 2:10 behind Enric Mas and needed to take advantage of the time trial to significantly reduce his disadvantage before the two mountain stages.

The Slovenian was cutting time, although it was clear from the start that the differences would not be as large as expected. At the first intermediate point, Mas lost 22 seconds to Roglič. At the second, the difference had increased to 36 seconds.

Roglič finished with the fourth best time of the day, 19 seconds behind Küng. Mas, for his part, completed a remarkable time trial and arrived in Jerez 12th, 52 seconds behind the winner. The final difference between them was only 33 seconds.

An especially important result for the Spaniard, who maintains 1:37 over Roglič and exits the terrain that, on paper, could most favor the Slovenian with a still considerable margin.

Roglič overtakes Gall and moves into second

The big change in the general classification occurred immediately behind Mas. Felix Gall could not match Roglič's performance and lost his second position. The Austrian finished the time trial with the 25th best record and is now third overall, 3:01 behind Mas. Roglič thus rises to second place and becomes the main pursuer of the leader before the last three stages.

There were also movements in the lower part of the Top 10. Clément Berthet moves up to seventh place, while Mattias Skjelmose and Cristian Rodríguez are tied at 7:51. Harold Tejada enters tenth, at 9:57.

Top 10 of stage 18 of La Vuelta a España 2026

1. Stefan Küng (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) — 35:22
2. Callum Thornley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) — +3
3. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG) — +9
4. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) — +19
5. Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) — +20
6. Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) — +21
7. Bruno Armirail (Visma | Lease a Bike) — +26
8. Ivo Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates XRG) — +30
9. Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) — +32
10. Xabier Azparren (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) — +33 

Top 10 of the general classification after stage 18 of La Vuelta

1. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) — 60:45:58
2. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) — +1:37
3. Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) — +3:01
4. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) — +5:17
5. Oscar Onley (Netcompany INEOS) — +6:03
6. Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain Victorious) — +7:00
7. Clément Berthet (Groupama-FDJ United) — +7:47
8. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) — +7:51
9. Cristián Rodríguez (XDS Astana Team) — +7:51
10. Harold Tejada (XDS Astana Team) — +9:57

The time trial thus leaves a situation much more favorable for Enric Mas than could have been anticipated before the start. Roglič has succeeded in cutting time and is now second, but he has only recovered 33 seconds of the 2:10 he needed to make up.

With three stages still to be contested and two mountain days ahead, Mas retains 1:37 over Roglič and 3:01 over Gall. The time trial has not decided the Vuelta, but it has allowed the leader to reach his terrain with a significant advantage.