"Some days he’ll take minutes from us, and on others..." - Enric Mas analyzes chances to score at Pogacar-controlled Vuelta
Cycling
Enric Mas heads into another Vuelta a España with a measured message, focused on rediscovering feelings rather than big promises. The Movistar Team rider, one of the squad’s key cards for the race alongside Cian Uijtdebroeks, admits he reaches the Monaco start needing to reconnect with his best version.
“I have to take it day by day. A good Vuelta would be to finish better than I am now, for the form to grow a bit, and little by little find the Enric from the start of last season,” the Balearic rider explains before the Spanish Grand Tour begins.
Mas does not want to set a concrete general classification target from day one. The Movistar Team rider believes the race itself will dictate how far he can go and prefers to first see how his body responds over the opening stages.
“It’s been two years since I fought for a GC. After a few days I’ll draw conclusions,” he notes. It marks a shift from other editions where he arrived at La Vuelta under pressure to fight for the podium. Historically, the Spanish race has been his best stage, with several podium finishes on his palmarès.
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One of this Vuelta’s big storylines is the presence of Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian returns to the race for the first time since 2019 and starts as the outstanding favourite after a year in which he has already shown extraordinary dominance.
Pogacar will shape the race
Mas is well aware that the presence of the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader could completely reshape the race dynamic.
“It’s clear Pogacar is the best, a rider of an era who will be the best in history. His presence shapes everything and he’ll do what he wants. UAE will control. We’ll see what he intends to do, and then we’ll focus on ourselves,” says the Mallorcan.
Enric Mas at the 2026 Giro d'Italia
The Movistar leader understands it will be virtually impossible to build a race plan solely around the Slovenian. Instead, he backs adapting to circumstances and seizing any opportunity that arises.
“Some days he’ll take minutes from us, and on others we have to be ready to play our cards for stage wins,” he adds.
Enric Mas and Cian Uijtdebroeks lead the GC ambitions
Movistar Team will tackle the race with a line-up built to be present on all terrains. Mas highlights the depth of a roster that also includes riders capable of contesting fast finishes and time trials.
“I’ve achieved my best results at the Vuelta. We arrive with a strong team; we have riders for all terrains, for sprints, for the time trials,” he explains.
“For the GC, it’s Cian Uijtdebroeks and me,” Mas confirms, unwilling to assume the sole leadership role from the start. The strategy will depend on both riders’ sensations and on how the race unfolds.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- Where Merckx just rode every single race he could and won all the time, Hinault won less often (percentage wise) because he was more judicious in what he raced. His palmares are nuts. He had amazing rivals, one to start his career and another to end it in the grand tours. His classics were solid. What sets him apart from Merckx and Pogačar are that he basically dabbled in the classics while the other two love(d) them. I used to compare Pogačar to Hinault for his grand tour record and occasional classics win, until I realized that the comparison was wrong. Pogačar loves the classics - ah, the memory of his reaction to finishing fourth in a 2 person sprint in Flanders in ‘22: utter domination in any one day race since then, even when he doesn’t win. Hinault lived for the grand tours and I don’t think anyone else will ever reach his record. 10 wins in 13 attempts? Good lord. An amazing rider. Wish there was more footage to watch.RidesHills11-11-2026
- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - 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
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