In some ways, it’s hardly a shock to see Enric Mas within the greater ranks of a Vuelta a España GC, given the Movistar chief has already taken three second locations total in his house Grand Tour.
Nevertheless, after a wildly uneven Tour de France, which he started performing under expectations however ended on a much more upbeat be aware, it was unclear how Mas would race on house terrain this August.”
To this point, although, Mas has proven an enormous diploma of consistency within the 2024 Vuelta. To this point, 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 (Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) on the opposite main climbs did not work out.
However regardless of dropping 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 sort out the subsequent crunch stage and its gravity-defying summit end at Cuitu Neru on Sunday, Movistar stay completely satisfied that the person from Mallorca can nonetheless battle 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 advised 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 properly.”
“However we’re nonetheless upbeat and ready to see what can occur. We’ve acquired a number of choices, the crew’s going very properly, and we’re nonetheless preventing and on the assault as a result of it’s the one option to battle for the ultimate victory and the rostrum. However we don’t neglect, both that Ben O’Connor is defending himself rather well.”
Lastras is something however stunned at how properly Decathlon have been racing, saying that his primary pre-race favourites had been Rodriguez, Roglič and the French crew 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 12 months, 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 typical stage, Lastras says. However the Colombian veteran remains to be taking part in a significant function within the 2024 Vuelta crew.
“He offers the group a substantial amount of confidence, serenity and tranquility and that’s basic. Each director has to have a key confidant within the crew, and that man right here is Nairo,” Lastras explains.
“It needs to be emphasised that Nairo is right here for the crew, 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 properly he’s racing – it demonstrates the hands-on angle he has, which finally issues greater than the bodily aspect of issues.”
Curiously, Lastras confirms {that a} related type of upbeat philosophy is what’s presently behind the Mas renaissance on the Vuelta. Or as Lastras places it, “Because the Tour he’s been a distinct rider, he’s acquired a distinct type of dynamic driving him on.”
The precise nature of that completely different dynamic or angle to racing is each easy and sophisticated to achieve on the identical time.
“Usually I don’t like speaking myself as a rider, however I must say that at 31, one thing occurred – my work philosophy instantly 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 crew.
The ethical behind Mas’ swap in angle – and his again in 2007 – is one which Lastras feels is nice to transmit to the youthful generations of racers, typically using at excessive ranges from a really early age.
“They’re coming via super-prepared, however as riders they don’t get pleasure from what they’re doing. However 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 acquired a Vuelta a España stage and a day within the lead in 2011. However like I’m saying it’s not in regards to the wins, it’s in regards to the enjoyment. That’s the essential factor to get.”
