Vuelta 2026: Dunbar conquers Peñas Blancas, Mas retains red

fotobureau Cor VosWith 2 kilometres to go on the final climb, Santiago Buitrago rides away from his breakaway companions Thomas Gloag, Eddie Dunbar and Urko Berrade. The Irishman comes back to him inside the final 500 metres and rides straight past him. Dunbar takes the spoils, while GC contenders finish together, with Enric Mas retaining the red jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Stage 19 Results – 2026 Vuelta

1. Eddie Dunbar (irl)
2. Santiago Buitrago (col) + 0:14
3. Thomas Gloag (gbr) + 0:23
4. Urko Berrade (spa) + 0:44
5. Marcel Camprubí (spa) + 1:44
6. Andreas Leknessund (nor) + 2:01
7. Guillaume Martin (fra) + 2:11
8. Chris Hamilton (aus) + 2:39
9. Kevin Vermaerke (usa) + 3:03
10. Sergio Samitier (spa) + 3:17

12. Felix Gall (aut) + 5:11
13. Richard Carapaz (ecu) s.t.
14. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
15. Oscar Onley (gbr) s.t.
16. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
17. Jakob Omrzel (slo) + 5:16
18. Clément Berthet Fra) + 5:21
20. Harold Tejada (col) + 5:41
21. Christían Rodríguez (spa) s.t.

GC after stage 19

1. Enric Mas (spa)
2. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 1:37
3. Felix Gall (aut) + 3:01
4. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 5:17
5. Oscar Onley (gbr) + 6:03
6. Jakob Omrzel (slo) + 7:06
7. Clément Berthet (fra) + 7:57
8. Cristián Rodríguez (spa) + 8:21
9. Mattias Skjelmose (den) + 9:06
10. Harold Tejada (col) + 10:27

Race report
After more than 30 kilometres of relentless attacks, Steven Kruijswijk, Andreas Leknessund and Jasha Sütterlin finally manage to break clear. The peloton continues to chase and some 20 kilometers later, Bastien Tronchon, Tobias Halland Johannessen and Ivo Oliveira make it a six-rider break before Kevin Vermaerke regains contact in the run-up to the Puerto de las Abejas.

On the climb, Eddie Dunbar, Filippo Zana, Darren van Bekkum, Jørgen Nordhagen, Léo Bisiaux, Rudy Molard, Ramses Debruyne and José Luis Faura replace Kruijswijk and Sütterlin. The peloton is still right on the attackers’ wheels at that point.

On the Puerto del Viento, only Dunbar manages to stay clear, while the others are swallowed up by the bunch. Just before the summit, Kevin Vermaerke, Pablo Castrillo, Marcel Camprubí, Thomas Gloag, Santiago Buitrago, Pau Miquel, Guillaume Martin, Rudy Molard, Bastien Tronchon, Andreas Leknessund, Sergio Samitier, Darren van Bekkum, Chris Hamilton, Urko Berrade and Mats Wenzel bridge across to the lone rider.

That settles it, and as the leaders hit the final climb, they have more than 7 minutes in hand.

Buitrago accelerates with just over 13 kilometres of climbing still to go. Gloag immediately follows his move, while Berrade and Dunbar come across later. The four then stay together until the KOM leader kicks again inside the final 2 kilometres. This time, he manages to get a gap, but with 500 metres to go, Dunbar comes back alongside him. The Irishman powers past and wins the race by 14 seconds from the Colombian.

Despite a few attacks, the GC contenders stay together on the final climb, meaning Enric Mas retains the lead ahead of Primoz Roglic and Felix Gall.

Another interesting read: route 19th stage 2026 Vuelta a España.