After losing time several times, Mas and Movistar might just be shifting focus: "It's time to win"
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Follow us on GoogleEnric Mas has already lost time on several occasions during this Tour de France, which means we’ve hardly seen him on screen. The Spanish Movistar team leader was definitely ready for the rest day, but he still sees plenty of opportunities in the remainder of the Tour. Will he keep aiming for a high GC position, or shift his focus to stage wins? Mas himself explains.
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Finally, a break, that must have been what the Spaniard was thinking on Tuesday.
“We were really looking forward to it,” he told Marca, referring to the first rest day.
“This year they added an extra stage for us because of France’s national holiday, and it turned out to be a really hard one. So yes, we were definitely waiting for this rest day.”
Mas begins the second half of the Tour in 13th place overall, despite starting off strong after the opening weekend. But it was the time trial on Stage 5 that set him back in the general classification. On top of that, a crash in the stage to Mûr-de-Bretagne caused him to lose more time, further denting his GC hopes.
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Mas warns about stage 11 on Wednesday: “You’ll see how everyone goes all-in”
But it looks like the terrain is finally turning in Mas’s favor, as the Tour heads into the Pyrenees in week two. Still, the Spaniard is first focusing on stage 11, this Wednesday (today, ed.).
“It’s not a real rest day, because it comes right after the rest day. You can feel it, everyone starts strong. You’ll see how everyone goes all-in. I don’t know how it’ll play out, or if there are teams that want to control the finish.”
“There are still a few spectacular stages left in the Pyrenees,” Mas continued, though he’s not entirely sure yet what his own ambitions will be.
“We’re in a bit of a... I wouldn’t say complicated, but a strange situation. On the key days, I lost some time, mainly in the time trial. I just hope that with what’s left of the Tour, I can turn things around and enjoy the pain and suffering we all love so much.”
Now that he’s in 13th place overall, a stage win could be within reach, especially since he may be given more freedom by the GC riders.
“A stage win would be amazing, but I’d also love to finish with a good GC result. Hopefully, I can manage both. I’m going for it and hopefully it works out.”
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"It's very difficult to win against Pogacar," Mas says about Movistar's plans
So the big question remains: should Movistar’s leader pick between chasing stage wins and going for a strong GC result?
“Winning a stage is very valuable. It’s been a long time since we did that, I think the last time was in 2019, with Nairo. It’s time to win. Plus, we have seven other teammates who also have a chance, and I think it’s achievable,” Mas said optimistically.
To make that happen, Movistar needs to try something bold.
“It’s clear we need to do something, because it’s very hard to beat Tadej (Pogacar, ed.),” he admitted.
So the team is getting together to make a plan. “Today (Tuesday, ed.), we have a meeting to discuss that, five days before the next rest day. We’ll see what the team decides and evaluate it.”
Mas doesn’t know which stages will be the focus, but he has his own preferences.
“We’ll take it day by day. When the bell rings, let it ring loud in every stage. But there are three that I really like: Hautacam, Bagnères, and the time trial. Those Pyrenean stages especially appeal to me,” said the Spaniard, who isn’t ready to talk about a potential final podium in Paris just yet.
“Maybe I can give you a better answer on the next rest day. For now, it’s still a bit complicated.”
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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