“It’s a big unknown” – Enric Mas targets Giro podium after months out… but may work for Cian Uijtdebroeks first

Enric Mas has finally begun his 2026 season after months on the sidelines, but the Movistar Team leader admits he arrives at the Volta a Catalunya with major uncertainty over his form.

The Spanish climber made his return to racing at the Clàssica Terres de l’Ebre, approaching the comeback cautiously after a disrupted build-up marked by injury. While he is back in the peloton, Mas is still dealing with the effects of a wrist problem that has yet to fully heal, leaving his current level difficult to judge.

Speaking to Marca, Mas acknowledged that both his condition and expectations remain unclear, even as he looks ahead to a Giro d’Italia debut later this season.

Mas did not hide his mixed feelings about being back in competition. “Good, strange. We decided to race in Terres because the wrist is still quite painful and the wound hasn’t fully closed. I hope it doesn’t bother me too much this week and that I can help the team as much as possible.”

After such a long spell without racing, the uncertainty is unavoidable. “The pre-season wasn’t bad. Then, when I was going to the UAE Tour to start getting into rhythm, I had the hand accident and that kept me out for a few weeks, even a couple of months. We arrive with uncertainty. Cian is going very well, so I suppose I’ll have to work for him. As for me, it’s a big unknown, since I haven’t raced since July.”

With that in mind, Mas is keeping expectations in check for Catalunya. “That’s right. It’s a race to take step by step, there’s no other option.”

The wrist issue remains a key concern, both physically and mentally, after a longer-than-expected recovery. “When I saw my hand, I already knew it would take a long time. These are things we do every day: you get careless, and until something happens, you don’t see the danger.”

Mas also reflected on the challenge of being out of action for so long. “You just keep going, there’s no other way. I haven’t competed since July; it’s been a very long period, but it’s true that I’ve gone through a part of the sport that I’d rarely experienced before. You learn from everything.”

Complicating matters further was a diagnosis of thrombophlebitis, which forced him to stop completely for several months. “You deal with it knowing you have to be stopped for three months. The first step was accepting that I wouldn’t ride La Vuelta, and then using that time at home with family and friends, and disconnecting from everything.”

Despite the setbacks, Mas is already looking ahead to a new objective: his debut at the Giro d’Italia. “Honestly, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a new race, a different calendar. It will also be a different summer: in July, I’m usually racing, and this year I’ll be at altitude. I’m excited because doing something different after so many years is important.”

The decision was made after his Tour de France exit and was quickly agreed upon within the team. “When I withdrew from the Tour de France, I already knew I was going to suggest it to Eusebio, and he accepted it straight away. I think the team had also been thinking about it, so it was just one conversation.”

And while his current condition remains uncertain, his ambition for Italy is clear. “Honestly, I’d like to be on the podium. I’m going to prepare for it: first, I’ll finish Catalunya and then have a good build-up. We’ll do a three-week training camp with the Giro block, or about 80% of the team.”

Looking ahead to the competition, Mas identified Jonas Vingegaard as the rider to watch. “I don’t think Vingegaard will pay much attention to Almeida; rather, Vingegaard does his own thing, and we’re the ones who have to watch him. He just rides his own race and little else.”

He also dismissed any outside pressure, choosing instead to focus on those closest to him. “Honestly, what really matters to me is what my family and friends say, and of course, the team as well. I don’t pay attention to everything that’s said, because very few people can deal with outside comments; otherwise it would be madness.”