“I don’t fear any stage” - Confident Enric Mas faces special Vuelta a España final week as he wears red jersey
CyclingMonday, 07 September 2026 at 14:21
Enric Mas heads into the final week of the Vuelta a España from a privileged position: the race lead. After two weeks of racing and following a difficult spell in recent months, the Spaniard says he feels in a good place, physically and mentally, and wants to enjoy a situation he considers special.
“We’re motivated. Today is a slightly calmer day and it’s time to enjoy it,” Mas said at a press conference in Seville on the rest day, in comments reported by Marca. The Mallorcan admitted these two weeks have helped him recover sensations and live an especially happy moment after recent challenges. “I’m very well as of today,” he stated.
Mas does not want to overthink what could still happen, though he knows a three-week race is not decided until the very end. “Something unfortunate can happen,” he admitted. Even so, the race leader expressed complete confidence in Movistar’s work.
“As of today the team has been a ten out of ten, everything under control. In that respect I trust myself and the team,” he noted.
The Spaniard is also starting to picture the finale in Granada. He admits he thinks about how that last Sunday might unfold and the moment he meets his family at the finish.
“Yes, I dream of Granada. You always think about what could happen this week. You think about welcoming the family in Granada, in a special way,” he confessed.
The time trial won’t keep him up at night
One of the key points of the final week will be the Jerez time trial. Given its profile, it could trigger significant changes in the general classification, but Mas is not approaching it with fear. The leader believes reducing the entire final week to the TT would be a mistake. “Not only the time trial is key, there are other important stages,” he reminded.
His message was clear: there’s no need to fear the time trial. “We don’t have to fear the TT day because it’s one day out of 20 of racing,” he pointed out. In fact, Mas was even more emphatic when asked about the remaining stages: “I don’t fear any stage.”
Among his main rivals is Primoz Roglic, third on GC and one of the great specialists at managing the final week of a Grand Tour. Mas does not trust the Slovenian’s discretion and recalls his experience in these races.
“Primoz is third overall, he’s not 16th. You can never rule him out,” he warned.
The leader also highlighted the level Roglic is showing and his experience as a Grand Tour winner: “He’s showing a great level. He knows what it takes to win a Grand Tour because he’s won four.”
Enric Mas at the Vuelta a España 2026.
Roglic threat
But Mas does not limit the threats to the Slovenian. The standings keep several options open and the Movistar rider believes they cannot focus all their attention on a single opponent.
“Aside from Gall and Roglic there are more riders to be careful with. The classification is there and we can’t drop our guard at any moment,” he explained.
Wearing the leader’s jersey inevitably changes the attention around a rider, but Mas says he is trying to behave exactly as he did before taking the lead. “I try to do the same as before. I think nothing has changed,” he explained.
He does acknowledge small protocol differences and that he now has to take the first spot in certain formalities, but he insists his way of approaching competition remains intact.
“When you’re the leader you’re the one who goes first in things, but I try to do everything like before. I’m continuing as I have so far,” he said.
A special moment for Spanish cycling
Mas’s leadership has also sparked a strong response outside the race. The rider senses a special atmosphere around the team and highlights the enthusiasm the Vuelta is generating.
“There’s a boom around the team. We’re doing a good job and the country is enjoying Spanish cycling,” he said.
Mas also valued the fact that Spain once again has a rider leading a Grand Tour: “We’d gone years without leading a Grand Tour.” For the rider, public support is a key part of this experience. “It’s something to be grateful for and it’s very nice how much the Spanish cycling fans help us,” he added.
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Enjoying a moment he wants to remember
Beyond the standings and sporting demands, Mas admits he is living an especially happy personal moment. The race lead brings new protocols and commitments he had not experienced before, but he is enjoying them.
“After the stages there are protocols I had never done, but I’m liking it,” he acknowledged.
He summed up his mood with a revealing line: “It’s a very happy time in my life.” On the sporting side, he feels he is facing one of the most important moments of his career and is sure it will be hard to forget. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”
Now comes the decisive week. Mas starts in red, trusts his team, respects all his rivals and, despite the importance of the Jerez time trial, refuses to approach it with fear. The target is Granada and the leader wants to get there with the same philosophy that put him in the jersey: without changing his racing style and enjoying the moment.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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