Mas changes tactics after off day and thanks team: "Otherwise I would’ve lost even more time"

“We are in a somewhat... I wouldn't say complicated, but it's a strange situation,” Mas said on the first rest day. “I lost some time on the important days, especially in the time trial. I hope that during the rest of the Tour, I can turn the tide and enjoy the pain and suffering that we love so much.”

With him already in thirteenth place in the GC, it was still unclear whether Movistar and its leader would refocus on stage wins. "A stage win would be great, but I'd also like to get a good result in the GC. I hope both things happen. I'm going for it, and hopefully I'll succeed. It's time to win. Besides, seven other teammates also have a chance, and I think it's achievable,“ said the man from Mallorca on Tuesday.

While most cycling fans were watching Pogacar's masterclass on Thursday, Mas had a really tough day in the background. "I suffered a lot from the start," he breathed heavily at the top of Hautacam to Marca. "I didn't feel good. I lost more than 15 minutes, and that's thanks to the team, because otherwise I would have lost a lot more." The Spaniard crossed the finish line in 33rd place in the stage results, exactly sixteen minutes behind the winner, Pogacar.

This puts the Movistar team leader in fifteenth place in the GC, just under 22 minutes behind the world champion. Mas and his team are now changing tactics significantly, as they focus on achieving success at this stage. “I'm going for it, and my teammates will also have more freedom to fight for it because they don't have to work for me. There's still a long way to go in the Tour, and let's hope it works out."

Sports director Pablo Lastras had similar words on the rest day. “Last year, he was already in important breakaways. Enric also knows how to ride like this; he enjoys it, he loves it. We're not ruling out that he'll try again. We've carefully planned the stages. Without injuries or crashes, we remain confident in the guys,” said Lastras.