Mas 'fulfils his destiny' to win historic Vuelta

Enric Mas claimed overall victory at the Vuelta a España, the 31-year-old's first grand tour victory.

Four-time winner Primož Roglič finished second (at 2:15 behind) and Felix Gall finished third (at 2:44 behind).

It was the first victory by a Spanish rider at the Vuelta a España since Alberto Contador won in 2014.

Enric Mas has finally delivered an expectant Spanish public an overall victory at the Vuelta a España, his win confirmed at the end of the final stage into Grenada on Sunday.

Mas finished safely in the peloton during the 21st and final stage of the race, won by Norway's Tobias Johannessen.

The 31-year-old from Mallorca held off four-time Vuelta champion Primož Roglič to become the first Spaniard to win the Vuelta since Alberto Contador in 2014 .

Mas finished 2 minutes and 15 seconds ahead of Roglič overall, with Austria's Felix Gall finishing third at 2:44.

"It's been a day to remember, a special Vuelta, and it has been wonderful.

"There's always tension about what could happen, but you've seen it all went smoothly, so we're delighted and we enjoyed every kilometre today.

"It was a long wait and a long way to today. But to be honest, it was always special Vueltas, and this one I think is the special one."

Five-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar had come into the race as the overwhelming favourite for victory, building an ominous lead of 3 minutes 50 seconds by the end of the seventh stage.

The freakish Slovenian star had won three of the six completed stages at that stage and looked set to claim a win of unparalleled dominance in the modern era .

However, the two-time reigning world champion badly crashed on the eighth stage of the race , breaking his collar bone and fracturing his neck, ending his season.

From that point though, Mas, who had tested Pogačar on the mountainous fourth stage in Andorra, dominated the race alongside his much-maligned Movistar team.