Tadej Pogacar knows no half measures and the Vuelta a España already has its master. The Slovenian continues to lay brick after brick on the road to final victory and, in the sixth stage finishing in Castellón, he claimed his third stage win, once again leaving the peloton watching from behind.

After his success in the opening time trial in Monaco and his victory in Andorra la Vella, the world champion added another success to his tally, this time at the end of a day that was anything but straightforward. Pogacar had to contend with a difficult breakaway to establish, the wind, and above all a finale characterized by some gravel sections that forced all the favorites to exercise maximum caution.

In the end, however, it was still him who smiled. And he did so at the conclusion of a two-man duel with Enric Mas, a Movistar rider, who tried to put the overall leader in difficulty in the final stretch. A battle that recalled, in its dynamics and protagonists, the one already seen at the Giro di Lombardia, when the two found themselves once again facing each other.

The day had started with a script that seemed to favor the escapees. The problem was that the breakaway took a very long time to form. The peloton traveled at an extremely high pace and, for almost two hours, no one managed to build a significant advantage.

"I mean, we had a plan, yes, we could let the breakaway go today, but it took almost two hours to form one, so in the end, yes, we had to control for less than half the stage".

Once the men up front were identified, Pogacar's team understood that a change of strategy was necessary. The peloton was kept under control and, progressively, the breakaway's advantage was reduced.

"The guys did an excellent job keeping the group together and then yes, we could aim for the stage and they prepared me for a perfect attack".

The finale thus transformed a stage that could have been terrain for stage hunters into another opportunity for the Vuelta's great favorite.

Pogacar seemed to have already made the difference when, in the decisive phases, the surprise arrived. The Slovenian had received word over the radio that he was alone in the lead with a significant margin over his pursuers. Then, suddenly, Enric Mas appeared at his back wheel.

A situation that caught even the world champion off guard. "Yes, I was really surprised when Mas passed me like a rocket at the top, I didn't expect it because I heard on the radio that I was leading alone by 40 seconds, with the chasers in second place and there was no mention of Enric, so he passed me, I was a bit shocked because I was sure he knew the descent and then I was simply happy to be with him in the last 10 kilometers into the headwind because I had no water".

Mas, therefore, reopened a race that seemed already in Pogacar's hands. The two tackled the final kilometers together, while behind the group of favorites tried to limit the damage. The gravel section added another element of tension. Curves, braking points, and uneven ground could turn the finale into a trap. Pogacar, however, never lost his conviction that he could claim victory.

"In the end I knew I could beat him in the sprint but anyway yes I appreciate that he gave his all and I also gave my all until the finish line, so a salute to him and it was a great race".

And so it was. Once they reached the final straight together, Pogacar made his explosiveness count and dispatched Mas, claiming a victory that once again confirms his extraordinary versatility.

Pogacar is not just a climber and has proven he can win practically anywhere and in any way. The most impressive figure, however, concerns the overall standings. With his success in Castellón, Pogacar continues to strengthen his leadership and now has a 3'34" advantage over Enric Mas, who has become his main challenger. Primoz Roglic has slipped to third place, 4'21" back, while Richard Carapaz is fourth at 4'50" and Felix Gall fifth at 4'55".

The Vuelta is still long and the road can always present surprises. But after just six stages, the feeling is that Pogacar's rivals are not just looking to beat him: they are already looking for a way to limit the gap. The red jersey is on his shoulders and, stage after stage, it seems increasingly difficult to imagine anyone capable of taking it from him.