Mas doesn't hide podium ambitions, Unzué more cautious: 'Enric finds it hard to win'

Mas returns to the Tour, where he finished fifth overall back in 2020. Winning the yellow jersey, however, is no longer a realistic goal — and the 30-year-old is under no illusions. “It’s clear that Pogacar and Vingegaard are defining this era,” he told Eurosport. “But this Tour feels like the ones from the old days — the first ten days could go in any direction, so we’re focused on the podium.”

Clear words from the Spanish climber, who finished 19th overall last year. Mas has never been known as the most confident rider when it comes to descending, having struggled with fear on the downhills in the past. That makes the chaotic opening week a particularly tough challenge. “It’s going to be a difficult start, but we’ll try to enjoy the tension,” he said. “With the team we have, we can handle it.”

The first few stages could prove decisive — a single mistake might carry huge consequences. And yet, Mas is heading into them without much recon. “I don’t know a whole lot about those early stages,” he admitted. “There’s been no time to scout them properly. We’ve had so many races and the preparation took up a lot of time. We’ve ridden the final 30 kilometers of stage one — it’s going to be a bit chaotic.”

Movistar team boss Eusebio Unzué sees Mas as the undisputed leader, though he admits the bigger goal is to finally win a stage. “Our main objective is to take a stage victory — it’s been a few years since we’ve managed that,” he told Eurosport. While Mas has the talent to win, he's not exactly known for racking up victories. “Enric has a hard time winning, that’s just the way it is. But his biggest strength is his consistency. In three-week races — especially the Tour de France and Vuelta a España — he’s among the very best. So he’s the man we’ll count on for the highest possible GC result.”

Movistar is sending a relatively inexperienced team to France. “That’s true — we have a lot of rookies,” Unzué said. Iván Romeo, Pablo Castrillo, Will Barta, and Einer Rubio will all make their Tour de France debut. “I hope that their enthusiasm and willpower can compensate for their lack of experience.” He expects a lot in particular from Romeo and Castrillo. “They’re both super excited to discover the Tour. For Iván, it’s even his first Grand Tour. They’ll be in top form.”

Romeo announced himself this year with some standout performances — including a stage win and a stint in yellow at the Critérium du Dauphiné. “What he’s done definitely gives people reason to get excited,” said Unzué, who plans to introduce him to the Tour at a careful pace. “For now, we just want him to gain some experience. Of course, we’ll try to give him two, three, maybe four days of freedom — in stages we think could suit him. We’re also eyeing the stage five time trial. But we’ll keep it low-key.”

Targeting specific stages will be key — not just for Romeo, but for the whole squad. Movistar won’t be mixing it up in the sprints, and they’re unlikely to challenge Pogacar and Vingegaard head-to-head. Picking the right breakaway will be crucial. “Even though it’s tough in modern cycling, there are still days where it works out,” Unzué concluded. “I hope we can always have a few riders up there. And with Enric, we’ll try to achieve the best possible result.”