Enric Mas has taken a big step in becoming the absolute leader of Movistar Team this year, and 2023 will likely be no exception. With the departure of Alejandro Valverde after many years, the Spanish team will rely on it's top climber to succeed the most in the coming year.
"We knew that I had ended the Tour in good shape, in inverted commas. I didn't know how COVID would hit me but fortunately I recovered well and found some of the best form of my life," he said in a recent interview with Cyclingnews, where he also discussed the fear he had gained of descents and how he worked through that to show his best side on the final months of the season.
Mas was the closest competitor to Remco Evenepoel at the Vuelta a Espana and was not far from finally achieving his Grand Tour win. More impressive however perhaps was how he managed to keep his form the following month, storming to victory at the Giro dell'Emilia and riding to second place at Il Lombardia, both in direct competition with Tadej Pogacar.
"That gives me confidence for sure. I'm on the right path. Bit by bit I'm getting closer to them and one day I hope to be on their level. By working hard, and enjoying working hard. Every year I've grown a little more and I think I've got room for improvement," he continued.
"This year I felt my form was better than ever - not just when the results came, but the whole year. The numbers back that up, too With some more improvement, some more confidence, and a bit more experience, I think I can get there," he says. Although he won't have the support of ever-improving teams such as Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates, the Spaniard has understood that he can reach the same individual level.
Teammate José Joaquín Rojas has spent time with his teammate and helped him refocus after the Tour, into the Vuelta a Espana: "The form was very good but he needed to take a step back. With my 37 years of age, I tried to transmit some veteran's calm to him, above all encouraging him to take enjoyment in being on the bike. He's in love with the sport, like we all are, but maybe needed to lose the 100% pro cyclist focus for a while and enjoy riding, time with family, with friends."
Psychology is extremely important within cycling, specially in Grand Tour riders who often spend months away from home and family in order to reach their very best level. Different methods work for different riders, and the veteran's advice seems to have worked for Mas who managed to drop his horrific first months of the year - filled with crashes and diseases.
"I think that when he really relaxed, that was when things started to turn around. He went to the Vuelta without pressure and there he was the Enric we all know and love - at his level, smiling, riding well," Rojas assured, also having finished the Vuelta with him and Alejandro Valverde who's hung up the wheels.
"Enric seemed a little serious at first, but I've roomed with him this year and he's a really extroverted character who makes jokes," Rojas revealed. "He's very direct when he wants something and is someone who says things to your face."
"With the results he had at the end of the year, he'll start next year with another mentality - the mentality that he can do incredible things," he concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
- He should be in a different team. It was detrimental. For them it does not matter if he does not develop. He should have gone to a team where they need him to succeed.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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