Eusebio Unzué points out the key reason why Enric Mas can challenge Tadej Pogacar at La Vuelta: "The time trials will not be decisive"
Cycling
This Thursday, our Spanish sister channel CiclismoAlDía was able to be at the presentation of the Vuelta a Espana 2025. The route of the edition of this coming season has not left anyone indifferent. After the first stages in Italy, the entire race will focus on the northern peninsular, and then culminate in Madrid, first with stage 20 at the Bola del Mundo, in Navacerrada, and then with the triumphal ride through the capital.
The Vuelta will have virtually no opportunities for the sprinters. It will be almost entirely oriented to the mountains, and therefore to the men in the general classification. In terms of Spanish challengers, Enric Mas will likely lead the way, duelling against Tadej Pogacar. Although the challenge will be tough, Movistar Team boss Eusebio Unzué points out a key aspect of the route that benefits the Movistar Team star.
Read also
"The celebration of the 90th edition of the Vuelta a España comes with a clearly mountainous air and with two mythical sanctuaries such as the Angliru and, on the penultimate day of the race, the Bola del Mundo," begins the manager of the Movistar Ream in statements published on the networks of the Spanish team itself.
"Along with other well-known finishes in Pal, Cerler, Valdezcaray or La Farrapona; without a doubt, itis going to be a great Vuelta a España that will please the climbers," adds Unzué, just before mentioning what could be decisive for Mas to keep pace with Pogacar.
"The time trials are not going to be decisive, and we will also have room for possible sprints," says Eusebio Unzué. Historically, Enric Mas is not a good time trial rider, while Pogacar always stands out. If the Vuelta a España had been crucial for the overall, the Movistar Team leader would have very little chance of beating the UAE Team Emirates superstar.
The 2 time trials of the Vuelta a España 2025
In the next Vuelta there will be two time trials in total, which will be the following:
- Stage 5: 20 km team time trial in Figueres. It will be practically flat.
- Stage 18: 26 km individual time trial in Valladolid. It is completely flat, and may create differences between Mas and Pogacar. However, they are not expected to be large.
Finally, Eusebio Unzué gives his general opinion about the whole route: "It is very interesting to give visibility and enhance La Vuelta in other countries, with the start in Italy, the passage through part of the mythical French Alps, the return to Andorra and all the inclusion of northern Spain. A less hard edition than that of 2024 and that will give options to many riders".
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
Loading
2 Comments