Tadej Pogacar nears Grand Slam with third Vuelta stage win

Tadej Pogacar is unstoppable at the 2026 Vuelta a España. The Slovenian superstar won his third stage in six days on August 27, outsprinting Enric Mas in Castellon de la Plana to extend his commanding general classification lead to three minutes and 34 seconds. This victory puts him on the brink of completing a historic Grand Tour grand slam, having already won the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia.

How did Pogacar survive the scare on stage six?

The stage six win was far from straightforward. After attacking on the gravel section of the final climb, Pogacar was caught and passed by a flying Enric Mas at the summit. The drama intensified on the descent. Pogacar misjudged a corner and was forced off the road onto grass, a moment that could have ended his race. He managed to stay upright, rejoin the tarmac, and get back onto Mas's wheel. The two then worked together into a headwind before Pogacar launched the winning sprint. "I was really surprised on the top, he flew past by me like a rocket," Pogacar admitted after the stage.

What happened on stage seven as the GC battle cooled?

A day later on August 28, the focus shifted. Norwegian rider Andreas Leknessund won stage seven with a solo attack, dedicating the victory to his mourning nation following the death of King Harald. For the general classification contenders, it was a quieter day. Pogacar and his rivals were content to let the breakaway fight for the stage. In the final kilometers, Pogacar still found time to pull away from his direct competitors on the climb to Aramon Valdelinares, adding a few more seconds to his lead. His advantage over second-placed Mas grew to three minutes and 50 seconds.

Can anyone stop Pogacar's march to history?

The question hanging over the entire Vuelta is whether any rider can challenge Pogacar's dominance. His team, UAE Team Emirates, has controlled the race with precision. After a breakaway took nearly two hours to form on stage six, domestiques like Joao Almeida and Kevin Vermaerke worked tirelessly to set up Pogacar's winning move. His lead is now so substantial that only a major incident seems capable of denying him the overall victory. With his fifth Tour de France win just a month ago, Pogacar's form is terrifying.

What is the state of the general classification?

Pogacar's relentless attacks have reshaped the overall standings. His main rival, Primoz Roglic, has been displaced from second place and now sits third, four minutes and 21 seconds behind. Enric Mas has moved up to second, but his deficit remains massive. The table below shows the current top three after stage seven.

• Tadej Pogacar leads the 2026 Vuelta a España by three minutes and 50 seconds.
• He has won three stages in the first week, including a dramatic victory on stage six on August 27.
• His closest rival is now Enric Mas, with former winner Primoz Roglic in third.
• Pogacar is aiming to become the first rider in the modern era to win all three Grand Tours, completing the grand slam.

The Slovenian's message is clear. "We're here to win, not fool around," he has stated, and his racing is proving it. With over a week of racing still to go, his rivals need a miracle.