"Some days he’ll take minutes from us, and on others..." - Enric Mas analyzes chances to score at Pogacar-controlled Vuelta

Enric Mas heads into another Vuelta a España with a measured message, focused on rediscovering his best form rather than setting grand promises. The Movistar Team rider, alongside Cian Uijtdebroeks, admits he needs to reconnect with his peak self before the start in Monaco. ‘I have to take it day by day. A good Vuelta would be to finish better than I am now, for the form to grow a bit, and little by little find the Enric from the start of last season,’ he explains. Mas does not set a concrete general classification target from the outset. Instead, he believes the race itself will dictate his efforts, preferring to observe how his body responds in the opening stages. ‘It’s been two years since I fought for a GC. After a few days, I’ll draw conclusions,’ he notes. Historically, the Spanish race has been his best stage, with several podium finishes on his palmarès. One of this Vuelta’s key storylines is Tadej Pogacar’s return after a hiatus since 2019. The Slovenian, now the outstanding favourite after a year of dominance, will shape the race. Mas acknowledges Pogacar’s dominance: ‘It’s clear Pogacar is the best, a rider of an era who will be the best in history. His presence shapes everything and he’ll do what he wants. UAE will control. We’ll see what he intends to do, and then we’ll focus on ourselves,’ he says. The Movistar leader understands it will be virtually impossible to build a race plan solely around Pogacar. Instead, he backs adapting to circumstances and seizing any opportunity for stage wins. ‘Some days he’ll take minutes from us, and on others we have to be ready to play our cards for stage wins,’ he adds. Enric Mas and Cian Uijtdebroeks lead the GC ambitions for Movistar Team, which will tackle the race with a roster built for all terrains. Mas highlights the depth of the team, capable of competing in sprints and time trials. ‘I’ve achieved my best results at the Vuelta. We arrive with a strong team; we have riders for all terrains, for sprints, for the time trials,’ he explains. ‘For the GC, it’s Cian Uijtdebroeks and me,’ Mas confirms, unwilling to assume sole leadership from the start. The strategy will depend on both riders’ sensations and the race’s unfolding. Ondřej Zhasil, a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate since 2023, covers professional cycling, including the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. Based in Ostrava, he specializes in startlist analysis, team selections, and tactical scenarios. His work includes junior cycling and East Asian competitions, with expertise in cyclocross and mountain bike racing. Zhasil holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, using ProCyclingStats for data-driven analysis. He emphasizes careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and timely updates.