The Spanish Enric Mas (Movistar) woke up in Cantabria “more tired than in other days of rest” due to two very tough racing weeks, very hot, but the Mallorcan knows that the Vuelta is at stake in the mountain stages of Asturias and in the Santiago chrono. “We are clear that we will go out to win,” he assures.
“It seems seen on television that there has been no battle, but we have gone very fast, for example yesterday in El Barraco we were at full speed all day, Kruijswijk got into the escape and got to be 4 minutes and it was dangerous. Then the leader’s Intermarché was at full throttle. We reached the final 15th in the peloton. It is true that this week there has been no battle between the favorites, but in the third week there will be a battle for sure “, said the Arta cyclist.
But, fourth overall, 2.11 behind the leader, Norwegian Odd Christian Eiking and 35 seconds behind Roglic, great favorite, He has not made accounts before the clock of Santiago, he is clear that he must take advantage of the mountain, without complexes, and with ambition.
“I have not calculated the chrono. I have neither thought about it nor do I think about it. First we have tomorrow’s stage, which seems for sprinters, but in Cantabria nothing is easy. then we have the two important stages of Lagos and Gamoniteiru, where we must get the best possible profitability “
But Enric Mas knows and admits that the possibility of winning a big one is not that far, no matter how much Roglic has been superior so far.
“I don’t feel dizzy about the possibility of winning the Vuelta, on the contrary, being well classified is a motivation, I’m happy to be there fighting for the Vuelta, “he said.
What can be the strategy to beat Roglic? But I would accept any one that was effective, the problem is finding the correct key.
“We come from the Tour and can be accused now. It is clear that we will go out to win, to try yes or yes, I do not know if with an attack 80 km from the finish line, but we sure are going to try. “
Until now the leader of Movistar has tried a few times, but the wind sometimes prevents it.
“We have seen that the good day to start was on Saturday in Villuercas, but it was very windy, in the end it was very noticeable. The idea was to try to find time but it couldn’t be, he had 3 riders and with less effort than us he would have clinched us, that’s why I didn’t try. In El Barraco Yates left, I answered, but Roglic was welded to my wheel. “
But it is clear that Roglic will not go down, that the Slovenian will maintain the level shown so far.
“I don’t think he’s going to be less, he’s going to be at his level, he’s one of the best in the worldHe’s fine, I don’t see him tired, far from it. “
At the level of strategies, the role of other brokers such as Egan Bernal could be decisive, who must burn the ships this last week to achieve at least one place on the podium.
“Bernal sure is going to be in the fight this week, but also Yates, Haig … everyone should play on the attack and that can benefit us. “
But he lives “with emotion” that the fans shout his name and feel like a benchmark especially among the youngest.
“That support shows that people trust me, that’s a source of prideLet’s see if that spirit helps me for these key stages. “
López: “We need a 2-minute lead with Roglic before the clock”
Colombian Miguel Ángel López (Movistar) faces the last week of Vuelta convinced that the moment of truth has arrived with 2 decisive stages in Los Lagos and Gamoniteiru, where the general options are to get a minimum advantage of 2 minutes in the ports to try to beat the Slovenian Primoz Roglic, great favorite of the round.
“The two stages are key to make a difference, there will be the podium, and to reach the clock with options we need a minimum advantage of 2 minutes. Roglic is the champion Olympic time trial and the stage has more than 30 km, “said” Superman “on the second rest day of the Vuelta.
López believes that the Lagos and Gamoniteiru stages will require maximum effort, and who does not have the best day may have a serious upset.
“I went up to Los Lagos in 2018, without a doubt it is a stage to be strong, if not, many things can happen. Al Gamoniteiru before starting the Vuelta, we climbed it with some strength I don’t know if they are going to be the same now. We have been beating for two weeks, “he commented.
Before the key stages, Superman considers a serious obstacle the fact that the team has lost two men, Alejandro Valverde and Jakobs.
“You can tell that our team is missing 2 riders, we miss Valverde and Jakobs, since the rest have had a brutal wear and tear to take care of Enric and me, And that shows. It is uncertain to face the mountain without the whole team, we are tired after two long weeks “.
Although the rival to beat is Primoz Roglic, the Colombian climber does not forget his compatriot Egan Bernal, who is waiting on the front line this week.
“Runners like Egan Bernal have been in the shadows, but it is true that on important days they have been ahead. I am convinced that in the third week he will fight because he is not completely ruled out, we expect a great Bernal, “he commented.
López announces the battle by Movistar, with a double trick that is common in the Spanish team.
“Clearly our team has always worked with 2 or 3 leaders and it is good to have more than one option, then the road puts each one in their place, but you will always have a choice. We have spent two weeks and we reached the third with little difference. We will be in the battle. “