"It was tough watching the Vuelta from home" - Enric Mas laments bad luck that ended his 2025 season
Cycling
The presentation of Movistar Team 2026 in Valencia brought together a large part of the team and provided an update on the current condition of Enric Mas, one of the team's leaders. The Mallorcan cyclist faces a crucial moment in his career after a difficult end to the season, marked by the crash and subsequent surgery that forced him to abandon the Tour de France and ruled him out of the Vuelta a España.
After several months away from competition and regular training, Mas has returned to the bike and shared his initial impressions in response to questions at the team presentation. When asked about his physical condition after the surgery, Mas explained that the recovery process is progressing as planned.
He said he feels optimistic, although aware that there is still work to be done: “I'm recovered and very eager. I'm starting to train; I haven't been on the bike much, I've ridden a few times with the group, and it's been tough.” His words showed that his return to cycling is being gradual, with the usual caution after surgery and a long period without riding.
The Movistar rider insisted that the main objective now is to build a solid foundation to start the next season well. “We are gradually getting back into rhythm, recovering what we have lost during these months, and I hope to start the 2026 season on the right foot,” he added. Although the team has not yet revealed anything about its schedule, Mas conveyed the idea that there will be no rush and that everything will be decided based on his progress during the winter.
"It was tough watching the Vuelta from home"
One of the most candid moments came when he spoke about his absence from the last Vuelta a España, a race that has been fundamental in his sporting career. Mas didn't hide the fact that experiencing it from afar was difficult: "I hope to come back a little better than before. It was tough watching the Vuelta from home. It's an injury, it's part of the sport, part of life, but you have to accept it." The experience, he said, has helped him strengthen his patience and long-term focus.
The cyclist concluded with a wish that made his ambition for stability and continuity at the elite level clear. "I hope this doesn't happen to me again between now and when I retire." With these words, Mas concluded his speech reaffirming his intention to return stronger and to face the 2026 season with renewed energy after a year marked by recovery.
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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