Enric Mas, Carlos Rodriguez and Juan Ayuso - the Spanish trio keeping Remco Evenepoel on his toes at La Vuelta

It’s been a while since Spain had three riders in the top five of a Grand Tour. But the host nation enters Monday’s second rest day of La Vuelta with two stage wins already in the bag, Enric Mas the best placed rider behind the red jersey, and debutants Carlos Rodriguez and Juan Ayuso looking mature beyond their years (which, combined, still makes them younger than compatriot Alejandro Valverde).

Ever since Alberto Contador retired one day after his farewell win on the Alto de l’Angliru with a fifth place in his final Vuelta, Spanish fans have had very little cheer in their own race. In cycling, full stop.

Ad Mas may have twice finished runner-up since Contador hung up his cycling shoes, but the general feeling is that Spain – quite like fallen giants Italy, in many respects – are a nation in flux: its glory days in the rear-view mirror, and hardly any sunshine on the horizon. Vuelta a EspañaEvenepoel looks 'untouchable' in red – BlytheAN HOUR AGO As if to underline Spain's waning powers, the man who brought so much cheer for so many years is finally signing off.

The impending retirement of Valverde will call time on the long career of the only man alongside Contador who has won La Vuelta in the past 16 years. Twice a runner-up in his home tour, Valverde’s Movistar team-mate Enric Mas has never really looked like he could go one better and stand on the top step.

A conservative climber who lacks the explosiveness of his predecessors Contador, Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez, Mas has just the single stage win from 2018 and is not exactly a rider who excites and enthralls. Evenepoel shreds rivals on Stage 9 as Meintjes wins from break For all Mas' limitations, however, the Spanish “fans” who booed and harangued him earlier