"It has already happened" - BORA unhappy with motorbike positioning during Enric Mas' time trial
Cycling
Enric Mas emerged strengthened from the time trial at the Vuelta a España, although the leader’s performance has been overshadowed by a controversy regarding the potential benefit of motorbikes by the race leader at the Spanish Grand Tour.
Primoz Roglic failed to cut the gap he needed and, despite finishing fourth on the stage, let one of his best chances slip to put the red jersey under pressure. The Spaniard answered with a high-level ride and kept the main favourite under control before the final mountain stages.
However, images released after the TT sparked a fresh debate about the position of the race motorbikes. In one of the most-shared photos, taken at the same point on the course, there is a clear difference between the situations of both riders. While Roglic appears with the motos further away, Mas is riding with two vehicles considerably closer in front.
The image reached Sven Vanthourenhout, sports director at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, who did not hide his concern. The Belgian called the photo “a snapshot”, but admitted it is a situation he dislikes and one that, in his view, should not happen in modern cycling. The issue, moreover, would not be limited to this time trial.
Vanthourenhout explained that the presence of motos had already been a worry among the riders during the Vuelta. “It is something that worries the riders a lot,” he said, noting the matter had been discussed several times throughout the race. The Red Bull director also avoided placing direct blame on Mas: the leader does not decide where vehicles position themselves, and any rider would make the most of a favourable situation if it arose.
Enric Mas during the time trial at the Vuelta a España
Red Bull puts the spotlight on a recurring controversy
The comparison between Mas and Roglic further fuelled the debate. The Slovenian also saw the images and, according to Vanthourenhout, did not take the situation well. Even so, the sports director stressed his team had to focus on what it could control. The problem, from his perspective, was not the leader’s attitude, but the positioning of the motos at certain moments in the race.
The concern is not limited to the time trial either. Asked by Sporza whether Mas might have benefited from motos on the mountain days, Vanthourenhout was blunt: “It has already happened.” That claim raises the temperature, especially with decisive stages still to come and Roglic needing to claw back time to change the course of the general classification.
The discussion, however, should not hide the level Mas has shown over three weeks. The Movistar Team rider did not reach the red jersey thanks to a single day or a one-off circumstance. He has been one of the most solid riders of the entire Vuelta, responded in the mountains, and displayed a consistency that has allowed him to reach the decisive phase with a sizeable advantage; helped as well by a more proactive mindset.
In fact, even accepting that moto position may have had some influence at certain moments, it is hard to explain the broader picture on that factor alone. Mas has shown exceptional form throughout the race and, in sporting terms, has exceeded the expectations placed on him before the start. The Vuelta is showing that his leadership rests on far more than a viral photograph.
Roglic needed much more from the time trial
The time trial was precisely the terrain where Roglic had to make a difference. The Slovenian arrived as one of the great specialists against the clock and had a prime opportunity to reduce the gap to Mas. However, he finished fourth and failed to turn his theoretical edge into a margin big enough to seriously threaten the red jersey.
That is one of the keys to the current situation. Even with occasional assistance that motos might provide, Roglic should have taken more than a minute from Mas under normal conditions if he really wanted the TT to deliver a decisive blow in the general classification. The fact he did not speaks both to his performance and to the level reached by the Spaniard.
Mas not only held on: he went toe to toe with one of the best time trialists of his generation. And he did it after showing in the mountain stages that, this time, his legs are responding better than Roglic’s. The race’s evolution has turned the Spaniard into more than a provisional leader: by accumulated performance, he is the rider with the strongest case heading into the final part of the Vuelta.
Roglic still has options, and the coming days offer enough terrain to attack. But the reality is the Slovenian has already let an opportunity slip that is unlikely to come again. The moto controversy deserves attention and should be monitored by organisers, but it cannot be used to erase an obvious point: so far, Mas has been the best rider in this Vuelta, and his advantage rests on a performance that is superior to that of his main rival on the road.
Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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