Enric Mas extends Vuelta a Espana lead as Slovenian starlet Jakob Omrzel wins stage 12

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In the absence of superstar Tadej Pogacar another Slovenian announced himself to the cycling world with a stunning win on one of the toughest stages of this Vuelta a Espana: 20-year-old Jakob Omrzel.

The Bahrain-Victorious prodigy was part of a 30-strong breakaway on the 166.6km stage 12, a dramatic up-and-down day after two flatter stages for the sprinters.

Fireworks were always expected on the back-to-back category-one climbs at the end of the day and Omrzel duly provided them, taking his first WorldTour victory on the biggest stage – and on his debut grand tour.

The youngster – a former winner of the Giro d’Italia Next Gen, a prestigious stage race for under-23 riders – went solo with 12km to go on the final climb, the Calar Alto, a 17km behemoth averaging 5.6%.

The breakaway splintered apart in his wake and he held on to win by 1 minute 56 seconds from Urko Berrade, covering his face in delight and punching the air as he crossed the line.

Beaming ear to ear, Omrzel said afterwards: “I’m not surprised, because I know how much work I put in, and I knew that this day was going to come sooner or later. But for sure I was not expecting it 100% in the first Grand Tour. I still can’t believe what I did, but I felt super good, I’m still feeling OK, I’m not tired. So I’m just enjoying it at the moment.”

As well as a coming-of-age victory for the young Slovenian, the general classification battle sparked back into life on the run from Vera to Calar Alto.

Richard Carapaz attacked on the penultimate climb, the 13.1km Alto de Velefique, but was brought back before Felix Gall attacked on the final climb. Mas and Primoz Roglic were able to follow but Briton Oscar Onley – who crashed earlier on the stage – was distanced, before race leader Mas countered on a steep ramp.

Mas has looked the best climber in the race so far but he also benefited from an excellent tactical ride by his team; the Spaniard left Gall and Roglic in an uncooperative chasing group before bridging across to teammate Raul Garcia Pierna, a satellite rider Movistar had positioned in the breakaway.

Mas left Garcia Pierna further up the ascent and ultimately added another 27 seconds to his lead over second-placed Roglic, crossing the line seventh, just shy of three minutes behind Omrzel.

Enric Mas extended his lead over Primoz Roglic to 1’45” (AFP/Getty)

The 31-year-old now holds a lead of 1’45” over four-time champion Roglic and 2’06” over Gall. Carapaz moved up to fourth overall, 3’53” off the maillot rojo, but it was a tough day out for Onley, who lost over two minutes to Mas and dropped to fifth, 4’29” back.

Omrzel was the highest-ranked rider on GC to make it into the break, having sat 10th overall at the start of the day, and he moved up to sixth overall, now just 30 seconds behind Onley.

Elsewhere, former European champion Tim Merlier outsprinted Olav Kooij for victory on stage two of the Tour of Britain, a 181.1km run from Boston to Skegness.

British rider Lewis Askey remains in the overall lead while major rival Filippo Ganna lost nearly two minutes after a puncture at a critical time.