UCI World Tour

The Mallorcan has given a show of strength at the top of Aitana by winning the ninth stage of the Return to Spain 2026. The head of the Movistar Team has responded with authority to the challenge of wearing the red jersey after the departure of Tadej Pogacar, surpassing rivals such as Primoz Roglic and Felix Gall, and strengthening the lead before the first day of rest.

The Slovenian wanted to reassure his followers after a severe fall in the Spanish Vules. Pogacar had to leave the race on Saturday when he had everything in his favor to win this year's event.

Tadej Pogacar (to this day the great leader and favorite to win) has had to leave the race after a hard fall 32 kilometers from the finish line, and Enric Mas has taken the lead. In a chaotic ending, Bryan Coquard has won the stage by beating Mads Peders and Jordi Meeus in the sprint.

According to the medical report released by the UAE team, Pogacar suffers a concussion of the brain, a displaced fracture in the left collarbone and a stable cervical fracture of the C7 vertebra, as well as various abrasions, injuries that will require surgical intervention to correct the collarbone.

Second was the Norwegian Tobias Johannessen (Uno X), 34 seconds away; and third the Belgian Wout Van Aert, 47.

The Slovenian cyclist from the UAE has clearly outperformed the Spaniard from the Movistar, now second in the overall ranking, after both took advantage of other favorites.

The British cyclist of the Visma team has overtaken Belgian Jordi Meeus (Red Bull) and Italian Vincenzo Albanese (EF Education) in the finish line of Roquetes.

The Slovenian took a big hit in the first stage of the high mountain, breaking the race with 50.5 kilometers to finish, in the Coll de Beixalis, with Widar second and Gall third.

The British cyclist from the Visma lease a bike team has been the fastest in the final meters of the second stage of the race. Pogacar has crossed the finish line in third place, thus keeping the red jersey, which remains at the top of the overall ranking. 

The Basque cyclist from the Cofidis team, winner in 2022 and second in the final stage with final in Limoges, has stayed within 15 seconds of the overall winner, Ewen Costiou (Groupama).

In this way, the Alavés will run the Return to Spain for the tenth time, in this case as leader of the Soudal Quick-Step, although the other options for the overall ranking are the Italian Filippo Zana and the French Valentin Paret-Peintre.

After losing the Tour de France, the Gernikese cyclist faces his last Lap with special motivation and will help guide the young team for three weeks. "In the end, not having run the Tour has opened the doors for me to make the Vuelta, and I am very motivated," said Bilbao.

The main task of the Alavés cyclist in his second Lap will be to help the Ecuadorian team leader. "Throughout the season I have had opportunities in several races, but now I will try to help the team as much as possible, which is the main goal for the next three weeks," Beloki explained.

"We had planned a recovery period after the Tour, but due to the collarbone injury, the date of my return to training has been delayed and I cannot return to the highest level soon," said the Danish cyclist.

81. The Return to Spain will be played between 22 August and 13 September and will begin in Monaco and end in Granada. The race can be followed daily by sports eitb.eus and ETB.

After the last port of the day, Demi Vollering launched the attack in search of victory, Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma came out behind the wheel, but were unable to keep up with the Dutchman and gave way.

Demi Vollering has chosen a short but very hard climb to attack, without establishing any level.