VUELTA’26 STAGE 12: Jakob Omrzel scored the biggest victory of his young career at the Calar Alto Observatory, surviving a massive breakaway before riding everyone off his wheel on the final climb. Behind the young Slovenian, race leader Enric Mas once again proved the strongest of the GC contenders, taking another chunk of time from Felix Gall, Primož Roglič and Oscar Onley.
The 166.6-kilometre stage from Vera to the Observatorio Astronómico de Calar Alto had “GC battle” written all over it. The Alto de Velefique—13.1 kilometres at 7.2%—was followed by the irregular 16.9-kilometre climb to Calar Alto, where the opening ramps kicked above 10%.
But before the favourites could start throwing punches, a breakaway of 26 riders went up the road—and it was packed with enough talent to make a pretty decent start list of its own.
Wout van Aert, João Almeida, Santiago Buitrago, Pello Bilbao, Jack Haig, Mauri Vansevenant, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Andreas Leknessund and young Bahrain Victorious rider Jakob Omrzel were among the escapees. Omrzel, tenth overall at just over eight minutes, was also the best-placed rider in the move.
Oscar Onley hit the deck during the frantic opening phase, but the young Scot was quickly back on his bike and continued without any obvious damage.
Van Aert Goes Mountain Hunting
Van Aert wasn’t in the break just to enjoy the scenery. The Belgian led over each of the day’s first three climbs, picking up a healthy haul of mountain points.
He briefly opened a gap with Buitrago over the Collado García, but the pair didn’t commit to the move. Van Aert then collected the intermediate sprint before the Velefique, adding more points to his day’s work.
With the peloton in no great hurry, the escape stretched its advantage beyond seven minutes. That put Omrzel within a minute of the red jersey and temporarily moved him into second place overall.
Suddenly, Bahrain Victorious had more than a stage victory to think about.
Bahrain Turns the Screw
Bahrain lifted the pace on the Alto de Velefique, and the big breakaway rapidly began shedding riders. Van Aert, Almeida and Johannessen were among the first big names to lose contact.
Omrzel also appeared to be in trouble, but the 20-year-old refused to panic. He found his rhythm and clawed his way back to the front.
Behind, Richard Carapaz launched an attack from the GC group with 36 kilometres remaining. The Ecuadorian started the day sixth overall, more than three minutes behind Mas, so the red jersey had no immediate reason to chase.
With just over three kilometres remaining on the Velefique, Omrzel accelerated and took Léo Bisiaux with him. The two young talents opened a gap, but Urko Berrade worked his way back across.
Buitrago led over the summit as the nine remaining escapees began the descent with around 5:30 in hand. Carapaz, meanwhile, had been pulled back into the red-jersey group.
The survivors—Luke Tuckwell, Raúl García Pierna, Bisiaux, Haig, Buitrago, Omrzel, Alexey Lutsenko, Vansevenant and Berrade—hit the final climb with more than five minutes to play with.
The stage winner was still up front. The only question was which one.
Gall Attacks—Mas Answers
Buitrago began applying the pressure with 15 kilometres remaining. Only Omrzel, Berrade and Bisiaux could stay with the Colombian as the rest of the break scattered across the mountain.
Decathlon CMA CGM was also turning up the heat in the GC group, setting the table for an attack from Felix Gall. The Austrian made his move, and only Mas and Roglič could initially follow.
Onley, Carapaz and Gregor Mühlberger were caught behind.
La Vuelta a Espana 2020 Stage 12 Video Final Kms
At the front, Omrzel launched his own attack. Berrade managed to hold the Slovenian’s wheel, but he wasn’t able—or willing—to contribute. Omrzel didn’t wait around to negotiate. He simply accelerated again and left the Spaniard behind.
The youngest rider in the Vuelta was suddenly alone, with four minutes in hand and the biggest win of his career waiting at the top of the mountain.
Behind him, Mas decided it was time to remind everyone who was wearing the red jersey. The Spaniard powered away from Gall and Roglič, once again confirming that—at least so far—he is the strongest climber in this Vuelta.
Mas also received some timely assistance from García Pierna, who dropped back from the break and went to work for his Movistar leader.
Gall and Roglič couldn’t match the pace. Carapaz and Mühlberger eventually fought their way back to them, while Onley slipped farther down the mountain.
Omrzel’s Breakthrough Win
There would be no catching Omrzel. With five kilometres remaining, he still held 3:45 over Mas. Under the flamme rouge, his advantage remained comfortably above three minutes.
The young Slovenian had time to savour the moment as he crossed the finish line at the Calar Alto Observatory. It was his first Grand Tour stage victory and only the second professional win of his career—a huge result for the youngest rider in the 2026 Vuelta.
Berrade held on for second place at almost two minutes, while Buitrago completed the podium and collected another useful haul of mountain points.
Mas crossed the line sixth, just under three minutes behind the stage winner. More importantly, he took another 30 seconds from Gall, Roglič and Carapaz.
Onley suffered the biggest loss among the leading GC riders, finishing more than five minutes behind Omrzel and dropping to fifth overall.
Stage 12 belonged to Bahrain Victorious and its fearless young Slovenian, but the message from the GC battle was equally clear: Enric Mas has the red jersey—and right now, he also has the climbing legs to defend it.
La Vuelta a Espana 2026 Stage 12 Results
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