Jan Hirt Rides His Best Grand Tour Stage Since 2022 at the Vuelta

On stage 20 of the 2026 Vuelta a España, Czech rider Jan Hirt finished sixth — his best Grand Tour result since 2022. Until then, his personal best this season had been a 17th-place finish on stage four of this year's Vuelta.

The 186.8km mountain stage, featuring three first-category climbs, ran from La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil. The 35-year-old Hirt, riding for NSN Cycling Team, spent the entire day in the breakaway and held on with the lead group all the way to the summit finish. The result lifted the Czech to 15th overall in the general classification.

Landa's Win, Eleven Years in the Making

The stage was won by 36-year-old Spaniard Mikel Landa, who crossed the line nearly a minute ahead of Norway's Johan Johannessen, the engine of the breakaway for most of the day who ultimately couldn't hold the pace on the final climb. It was Landa's first Grand Tour stage win in nine years, and his first victory at his home race in eleven. "I didn't want to miss my last shot at a stage win, so I gave everything I had," said the Spaniard, adding that his preparation for the Vuelta began back in August at the Czech Tour.

Mas Closing in on His First Grand Tour Title

Overall leader Enric Mas of Spain, riding in the red jersey, kept his main rivals firmly in check and finished 14th on the stage, extending his lead over second-placed Slovenian Primož Roglič by another 38 seconds. Austria's Felix Gall held onto third place in the general classification.

The 31-year-old Movistar rider is now all but certain to claim his first Grand Tour victory and become the first Spanish winner of the Vuelta since Alberto Contador's triumph in 2014. Mas took over the red jersey after stage eight, when the race's top favorite, Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, abandoned due to injury.

Pogačar broke his collarbone and a vertebra in a crash and ended his season early following surgery. The five-time Tour de France champion must now wait at least another year to pursue his dream of winning all three Grand Tours.

Source: sport.cz