Cork's Dunbar reels in leading climber Buitrago for Stage 19 Vuelta victory

There were 500m remaining in Stage 19 of the Vuelta ​a Espana when Eddie Dunbar overtook Santiago Buitrago. Pic: MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)

Corkman Eddie Dunbar overtook leading ​climber Santiago Buitrago with ‌500m remaining in Stage 19 of the Vuelta ​a Espana to ​secure an impressive victory on ⁠Friday while Spanish ​rider Enric Mas successfully ​defended his lead atop the general classification.

Dunbar's Pinarello Q36.5 ​teammate Thomas Gloag ​came third on the hilly 210.8km ‌route ⁠from Velez-Malaga to Estepona.

Mas goes into the penultimate stage on ​Saturday with ​a ⁠strong one minute and 37 second ​lead over rival ​Primoz ⁠Roglic.

Stage 20 is a 186.8km mountainous route ⁠from ​La Calahorra ​to Collado del Alguacil.

Reuters