Balearic Mas holds Vuelta second, 3' 30 behind
Enric Mas remains second overall in the Vuelta on Friday, but Tadej Pogacar has stretched his lead over the Balearic rider to 3' 30. Andreas Leknessund won stage seven alone after the 149,8-kilometre route from Vall d'Alba to Aramón Valdelinares. Pogacar crossed the line 16 seconds ahead of Mas.
The Norwegian rider claimed his first stage win in a Grand Tour after finishing off a breakaway that formed almost from the opening kilometre. His Uno-X Mobility team-mate Tobias Halland Johannessen took second, with Wout van Aert third.
Leknessund breaks clear
Uno-X Mobility had two riders in the five-man leading group when Leknessund attacked with 7,5 kilometres left. None of the others could respond as he opened a lead of more than 40 seconds.
Van Aert and Johannessen were left chasing behind him, with Johannessen putting the responsibility on the Belgian. Leknessund held on for the solo win at Aramón Valdelinares.
Pogacar gains more time on Mas
In the group of overall contenders, Decathlon lifted the pace before Felix Gall attacked three kilometres from the finish. Only Pogacar and Mas could initially stay with him, while Primoz Roglic lost ground for a second straight day.
Pogacar then went alone, dropping Mas first and Gall afterwards. He finished 4'23'' after Leknessund; Gall arrived six seconds later and Mas another 10 seconds after that.
Mas still took 13 seconds out of Roglic, extending his advantage over the third-placed rider to one minute. Gall moved 10 seconds closer to Mas and is now 11 seconds from the final podium place.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com