Enric Mas: "I am going to do everything to win the race"

Enric Mas is perhaps on the best position in his career so far to win the Vuelta a Espana, and he is aware of the situation. Over the coming two weeks he'll find more favourable terrain to strike in the Spanish race where he's finished second twice.

“I’d like to do an all or nothing for the Vuelta. I am going to do everything to win the race," Mas told the media on a rest day press conference. "I’m aware of the UCI points issue and the higher I finish, the more points we’ll get. We can’t commit suicide for the GC or give up those points."

However, with the form and consistency the Spaniard has been showing so far - and taking into consideration his performances of past year - Mas is a major candidate to finish on the podium again. At Les Praeres he suffered, but on both summit finishes at Pico Jano and Colláu Fancuaya he proved to be the rider who best managed to handle the pace of Remco Evenepoel who has obbliterated the competition in the first week.

“I’m taking it day by day. I had more doubts in the Netherlands than I do now, but there are still a few. I’ve been riding with the strongest in the race and that’s motivating," Mas takes from his first week. He sits in second place, 1:12 minutes down on Evenepoel, but 41 seconds in front of Primoz Roglic.

“Remco is the strongest. I don't know if he will crack one day or not, but he has been the best throughout. We are seeing the best version of him since he turned professional," Mas stated. He'll head into the race's sole individual time-trial looking to limit the losses, however his two rivals are the main contenders to take the stage win.

“I hope to do a good ride and not lose much time. I haven’t thought about what I could lose, I’ll give it my all. Sometimes I’ve done good time trials and I hope this will be one of those days," he concluded.