'The first day I felt back to normal' - Oscar Onley defeated in stage 9 sprint at Vuelta a España but remains in GC battle as illness fades

2026 Vuelta a España stage 9: Oscar Onley (r) and Enric Mas (l) attack on the final climb.

Oscar Onley might not have been able to outduel Enric Mas in their summit finish battle on Sunday in the Vuelta a España but the Netcompany Ineos rider had reasons to celebrate all the same.

Afflicted by illness earlier in the race, Onley's fast-improving condition saw the Scottish racer follow Mas closely to the line when the Vuelta leader launched his key move, some two kilometres from the summit of the mammoth 22-kilometre climb.