In some ways, it’s hardly a shock to see Enric Mas within the larger ranks of a Vuelta a España GC, given the Movistar chief has already taken three second locations total in his house Grand Tour.
However, after a wildly uneven Tour de France, which he started performing under expectations however ended on a much more upbeat observe, it was unclear how Mas would race on house terrain this August.”
So far, although, Mas has proven an enormous diploma of consistency within the 2024 Vuelta. So far, solely on one key climb – the Puerto Ancares – has his tactic of attacking the GC group the place doable, like at Hazallanas in Granada, and shadowing Primoz Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) on the opposite main climbs did not work out.
But regardless of shedding a minute at Ancares to Roglič,, Mas stays in third total, at 3:01 on race chief Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale). And as he and the remainder of the Vuelta peloton now deal with the following crunch stage and its gravity-defying summit end at Cuitu Neru on Sunday, Movistar stay completely satisfied that the person from Mallorca can nonetheless combat for the general victory.
“We’re in the identical state of affairs, even when it’s true that each Carlos Rodríguez [Ineos Grenadiers] and Mikel Landa [Soudal-QuickStep] are getting stronger every day,” Movistar sports activities director Pablo Lastras instructed Cyclingnews earlier than stage 14.
“Roglič’s already had much less good days at Hazallanas and managed to cover it, and now Mas has had a much less good day on Ancares and he managed to cover it as effectively.”
“But we’re nonetheless upbeat and ready to see what can occur. We’ve received a number of choices, the staff’s going very effectively, and we’re nonetheless combating and on the assault as a result of it’s the one strategy to combat for the ultimate victory and the rostrum. But we don’t overlook, both that Ben O’Connor is defending himself very well.”
Lastras is something however shocked at how effectively Decathlon have been racing, saying that his essential pre-race favourites had been Rodriguez, Roglič and the French staff usually. “And,” he provides with a smile, “Enric after all.”
Movistar have already got a Vuelta a España winner of their line up for this yr, too, within the form of Nairo Quintana, who took the race outright again in 2016.
Repeated crashes and subsequent accidents have prevented Quintana from racing persistently and gaining his normal degree, Lastras says. But the Colombian veteran continues to be taking part in an important position within the 2024 Vuelta staff.
“He offers the group quite a lot of confidence, serenity and tranquility and that’s elementary. Every director has to have a key confidant within the staff, and that man right here is Nairo,” Lastras explains.
“It must be emphasised that Nairo is right here for the staff, not for himself, and we’re very pleased with him. On Friday, for instance, he labored laborious on some flatter terrain that wasn’t suited to him and that sums up how effectively he’s racing – it demonstrates the hands-on perspective he has, which in the end issues greater than the bodily aspect of issues.”
Interestingly, Lastras confirms {that a} comparable form of upbeat philosophy is what’s at present behind the Mas renaissance on the Vuelta. Or as Lastras places it, “Since the Tour he’s been a special rider, he’s received a special form of dynamic driving him on.”
The precise nature of that completely different dynamic or perspective to racing is each easy and sophisticated to realize on the similar time.
“Normally I don’t like speaking myself as a rider, however I must say that at 31, one thing occurred – my work philosophy all of the sudden modified, in a single day. I began having fun with struggling on the bike, I loved being within the solar, the rain, within the races usually. Even after I’d crashed, I nonetheless loved it. In each space, I used to be in a much better place.”
What sparked the change in Lastras case was a heart-to-heart dialog with Eusebio Unzue, the longstanding sports activities director at Caisse d’Epargne, the previous sponsor for the Movistar staff.
The ethical behind Mas’ change in perspective – and his again in 2007 – is one which Lastras feels is nice to transmit to the youthful generations of racers, typically driving at excessive ranges from a really early age.
“They’re coming by means of super-prepared, however as riders they don’t get pleasure from what they’re doing. But the day they begin to get pleasure from their racing it’ll solely go higher, as a result of every part does – from their capability to get well to their capability inside competitors.”
“In my case, again in 2007 I received a stage of the Benelux Tour, I went on to win the Vuelta a Andalucia and I even received a Vuelta a España stage and a day within the lead in 2011. But like I’m saying it’s not concerning the wins, it’s concerning the enjoyment. That’s the vital factor to get.”