Enric Mas beats Oscar Onley to win Vuelta stage nine

Enric Mas beat Britain's Oscar Onley to win the ninth stage of the Vuelta a España on Sunday, taking the summit finish at Aitana and extending his lead in the general classification to one minute 18 seconds over Primoz Roglic.

Mas had one previous Vuelta stage victory, from 2018, and had taken the red jersey after the withdrawal of race leader Tadej Pogacar; the 31-year-old refused to wear the jersey on Saturday's podium in a gesture of respect because Pogacar is in hospital and requires surgery after crashing on the eighth stage. The stage provided a home victory for Movistar, their first on Spanish soil in five years, amid expectations of a reshuffle with Pogacar out of contention.

The 187km uphill route to the summit of Aitana was billed as a chance for climbers to make ground, and Mas delivered when it mattered: three kilometres from the line the three-time Vuelta runner-up launched an attack, held off the threat posed by Onley and celebrated emphatically as he crossed the finish.

"Now I understand Tadej Pogacar, the red jersey gives you wings," said Mas. "This morning I was as excited as a little boy. Winning while wearing the red jersey is very special."

Stage nine top 10: 1. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) 5hrs 10 mins 40 secs; 2. Oscar Onley (GB/Netcompany Ineos) Same time; 3. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora - hansgrohe) +12 secs; 4. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon CMA CGM) +18 secs; 5. Cristian Rodríguez (Spa/XDS Astana) +20 secs; 6. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +20 secs; 7. Jarno Widar (Bel/Lotto Intermarche) +25 secs; 8. Harold Tejada (Col/XDS Astana) +33 secs; 9. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/EF Education-EasyPost) +54 secs; 10. Santiago Buitrago (Col /Bahrain Victorious) +1 min 41 secs.

Overall standings after stage nine: 1. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) 28 hrs 34 mins 3 secs; 2. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora - hansgrohe) +1 mins 18 secs; 3. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon CMA CGM) +1 min 39 secs; 4. Oscar Onley ((GB/Netcompany Ineos) +2 mins 20 secs; 5. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/EF Education-EasyPost) +3 mins 26 secs; 6. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +3 mins 55 secs; 7. Sepp Kuss (US/Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +4 mins 9 secs; 8. Harold Tejada (Col/XDS Astana) +4 mins 39 secs; 9. Gregor Mühlberger (Aut/Decathlon CMA CGM) +7 mins 33 secs; 10. Jakob Omrzel (Slo/Bahrain Victorious) +8 mins 5 secs.

Riders have their first rest day on Monday before the race resumes with stage 10, a 184km route between Alcaraz and Elche de la Sierra that includes three category-three climbs; earlier on Sunday Pogacar posted a photo on social media of him in a hospital bed wearing a neck brace, accompanied by the Bee Gees' hit Stayin' Alive.