Enric Mas 2022 season was one that will be remembered for a long time and that will have a special place on Mas career. The 28 years old Spaniard of Movistar Team started the season with a lot of bad luck, being forced to drop out from Tirreno-Adriatico and Criterium Dauphine.
Then in the Tour de France Mas was having a low profile exhibition fighting for the last places in the top 10 until he was forced to quit due to Covid-19 officially, although the mental part also took a big role on the drop out.
The expectations weren't much for Mas when he arrived to Vuelta a España, but the Mallorcan took everybody by surprise and made one of his best Grand Tour performances so far, finishing 2nd behind Remco Evenepoel. He then carried his Vuelta momentum to the Italian Semi-Classics winning Giro dell'Emilia and finishing 2nd in the Italian Monument Il Lombardia only behind Pogacar who beat him in a sprint at the finish line. The Movistar leader was undoubtedly one of the riders who finished stronger the season, and now for 2023 Mas is once again looking to his Tour de France podium.
“I'm looking forward to the new season with great enthusiasm and a lot of desire. Over the last few months I've been able to mentally switch off, but now, after the team meeting, I'm trembling to start racing again. The main objective? The Tour de France, 2023. I know that the opponents (among whom will definitely be Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogačar and Egan Bernal - ed.) are very tough, but I can stay with them. I see the podium within my reach”, Mas told Spanish magazine Marca.
The last season can in fact mark a rebirth of Enric Mas, being specially more mentally stronger. The Spanish also aims for a good result at his home country Grand Tour Vuelta, specially on a stage course that he really likes.
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The course is very tough, and I think that's good for me. You have to arrive with a peak of form already for the first stages. Usually you prepare to be at your best in the last week, so it will be necessary to adapt to that. Then, there is that penultimate stage, on the Sierra de Guadarrama. It will be like a big Classic and there will be the final fireworks, but before that there will be many other decisive fractions.”, stated Mas about Vuelta.
One thing that Mas lacks and definitely needs improvement are his time trial skills. The Spanish always had that problem and to get to higher general classification places it is a very important skills to have. Mas knows that and says that he has been working on it and improving,” I know I have to improve, and we are working on it, with the team.
But it's not something that frightens me, although I am aware that time trials can be decisive. Overall, I have gained confidence in recent times, also because of the experience I have accumulated. Now I see everything differently: I know I can win, and this motivates me”, stated the confident Mas.
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