Enric Mas cracks after going "too deep trying to follow Remco" at Les Praeres

Enric Mas has returned to his best form on the opening week of the Vuelta a Espana, and he has put himself in a very strong position for the overall classification and the fight for the red jersey.

On the ninth stage, Mas had the task to, for a third time, follow Remco Evenepoel up the final climb. This was a more complicated finale however, with the Belgian benefiting from the sharp effort. “I went too deep trying to follow Remco. It would have gone better if I had gone at my own pace, I would have finished closer to him. Next time I’ll know better," Mas told reporters at the finish.

In a show of vulnerability that the Spaniard hadn't shown until today, Mas cracked and found himself riding with Juan Ayuso and Carlos Rodríguez towards the finale. He managed to limit his losses to Evenepoel - 44 seconds - but still put in some seconds on Primoz Roglic who also suffered after trying to keep up with the duo.

Mas said of Evenepoel: “Right now he looks untouchable. But the Vuelta is three weeks. Today he was stronger than me, but like I’ve said since the Vuelta started, we are racing each stage one at a time". The gap is now of 1:12 minutes between the two, but Mas will begin to enter favourable terrain on the second week where the high mountains will be more frequent.

“Right now we are second on GC. I don’t know if I will be able to do something big, but the Vuelta is very long," he added. "I don’t know how many grand tours he’s done, but I’m 27, and it’s likely I’ve done a few more, and maybe I can use that to my advantage.”