Enric Mas eyes stage 20 of Vuelta a España as most important day of career

Enric Mas safely defended his red leader's jersey on Friday during the first of two decisive mountain top finishes at the Vuelta a España. However, the rider acknowledged that surviving Saturday's mammoth stage 20 through the Sierra Nevada is the absolute key to his overall success.

Friday's summit climb to Alto de Peñas Blancas saw teams Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Decathlon CMA CGM set a steady pace for their respective leaders, Primož Roglič and Felix Gall, who remain Mas's closest rivals in the general classification.

Additionally, EF Education-EasyPost's Juan Felipe Rodríguez Contreras put in a lengthy spell at the front of the pack to work for Richard Carapaz. Looking ahead, Mas has recognized the upcoming stage 20 as potentially the most important day of his professional cycling career.