Stage 20 of the Vuelta Espana, from La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil, delivered emotions and continuous "upheavals" from the very first of the 186 kilometers. At the conclusion of a thrilling stage, Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) celebrated the day's victory. The Basque rider, fifty-four kilometers from the finish line, rejoined the morning's breakaway and five kilometers from the finish, he dropped Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) to win with a 47" advantage over the Norwegian and 1'27" over Belgian Ramses Debruyne (Alpecin - Premier Tech) who completed the day's podium.

Excellent performance from Sepp Kuss (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Walter Calzoni (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team) who finished in eighth, ninth and tenth position in the final standings, with the American who can be extremely satisfied as he gained six positions in the general classification, moving from 11th to 5th.

On the eve of the grand finale in Granada, Enric Mas (Movistar Team) savors the triumph and tomorrow will see Primož Roglič (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) and Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) on the podium.

RACE REPORT - The flag dropped to signal the start of the queen stage of the Spanish race and Van Aert rose on the pedals to launch his attack. The Portuguese Ivo Oliveira immediately joined the Belgian in the green jersey, forming a tandem that led the race for the first twenty-five kilometers.

Taking advantage of a split opened by the Uno X men, twelve riders from the red jersey group gained an advantage and quickly reached the breakaway leaders. A group of fourteen athletes was thus formed: Fisher-Black (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe), Vermeersch (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe), Ivo Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Chamberlain (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), Miquel (Bahrain - Victorious), Cort (Uno-X Mobility), Dalby (Uno-X Mobility), Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), Kron (Uno-X Mobility), Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility), Tiller (Uno-X Mobility), Coquard (Cofidis) and Rouland (Cofidis).

Other riders launched in pursuit of the breakaway leaders and among these were noted Garofoli, Zana, Albanese and Buitrago.

At the top of Puerto de Los Blancares, Pau Miquel (Bahrain - Victorious), Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) crossed in that order with the first pursuers over 1'00" back and the Mas group at 4'00".

The first climb at Alto del Purche ignited the race: from the leading group, Coquard, Tiller and Vermeersch dropped back, leaving eleven riders to lead with a 10-minute advantage over the general classification group from which Kuss first launched his attack and then Carapaz. The Ecuadorian's attack forced Gall to respond and the group exploded. Meanwhile, Van Aert was the first to crest Alto del Purche.

54 kilometers from the finish, as mentioned, Mikel Landa crowned his pursuit of the breakaway leaders; moments later Wout Van Aert also took the Intermediate Sprint at Güejar Sierra. No moment of respite: Ramses Debruyne launches in pursuit of the breakaway leaders and as soon as he reaches them, he attacks again, bringing Johannessen and Landa with him. The Basque rider wins the KOM at Puerto de El Duque while Mas, Gall, Roglic and Carapaz battle with attacks for the general classification.

The climb of Collado del Alguacil begins with many scattered small groups and up front a lively Landa seeking to land the winning blow. The pace variations of the experienced Soudal Quick Step rider cause his breakaway companions to crack and five kilometers from the finish, Mikel breaks away toward his seventeenth career victory. That success that had eluded him since 2021.

Tomorrow the Vuelta Espana will live its final chapter with a 112-kilometer stage starting and finishing in Granada.

FINAL STANDINGS

1 Landa Mikel Soudal Quick-Step 04:58:01

2 Johannessen Tobias Halland Uno-X Mobility 00:47

3 Debruyne Ramses Alpecin - Premier Tech 01:27

4 Miquel Pau Bahrain - Victorious 03:00

5 Berrade Urko Equipo Kern Pharma 04:12

6 Hirt Jan NSN Cycling Team 04:18

7 Nordhagen Jørgen Team Visma | Lease a Bike 04:35

8 Kuss Sepp Team Visma | Lease a Bike ,,

9 Calzoni Walter Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 04:48

10 Fortunato Lorenzo XDS Astana Team 04:53

Updates to follow