“The gaps will be smaller than everyone thinks” - Movistar send warning to Red Bull and Roglic ahead of Vuelta time trial
CyclingWednesday, 09 September 2026 at 15:15
The 2026 Vuelta a Espana is approaching one of its decisive moments. The Stage 18 time trial, between Puerto de Santa Maria and Jerez de la Frontera, is marked as a key date on the calendar for all of the contenders for overall victory, particularly because of the battle between Enric Mas and Primoz Roglic.
On paper, the Slovenian starts as the favourite in a discipline in which he has historically been superior to the Balearic rider, but Movistar Team do not expect the difference to be as large as many might imagine.
Jose Joaquin Rojas, Movistar sports director, spoke to CyclingUpToDate ahead of the stage and highlighted the development of both riders. For the Murcian, the current Roglic cannot be compared with the rider of two or three years ago, just as the Enric Mas seen at this Vuelta cannot be compared with the rider of previous seasons.
“I think everyone knows that Roglic is not the same rider he was two or three years ago, and Enric isn’t the same either, so it’s clear that Roglic will be the obvious favourite to do the better time trial, but I think the gaps will be smaller than everyone thinks,” Rojas explained.
The Movistar Team sports director’s message goes beyond simply having confidence in Enric Mas’s chances against the clock. Rojas points out that the Vuelta will not end in Jerez and that, after the time trial, there will still be two mountain stages remaining in which the race leader has so far shown himself to be clearly stronger than his rivals. “And after that there are still two more mountain stages, it’s not just the time trial,” he reminded.
The final major stage in Granada will be particularly important, with the route potentially becoming the ultimate test for all of the contenders for overall victory. “Yes, then there are two stages left, including the one in Granada, which is super hard, and I think that could create even bigger differences than the time trial,” Rojas said.
Movistar’s strategy, therefore, is not based on trying to settle everything in the kilometres against the clock. The objective is to come out of Jerez still wearing the red jersey and then use the mountains to defend or even extend the advantage.
Roglic will need to gain around 4 seconds per kilometre on Mas to take the Red Jersey
Enric Mas’s confidence is one of Movistar’s biggest weapons
One of the most striking changes in Enric Mas during this Vuelta has been his mentality. The Movistar Team rider has shown a level of confidence and calm that is very different from previous Grand Tours in which he has faced similar situations.
Rojas believes that psychological development has been decisive. “Yes, he is super confident. I think what has changed most of all with Enric this year is his head: much more positive, much calmer. I think all of you journalists can see it and we feel the same way as well,” the sports director explained.
That factor could prove particularly important in a time trial in which Enric will have to face one of the best specialists of the current generation. Movistar Team know Roglic starts with an advantage, but they also believe the race leader’s form and, above all, his confidence could allow him to minimise his losses.
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Rojas does not rule out Felix Gall or Carapaz
Although much of the attention is focused on Mas and Roglic, Movistar do not want to make the mistake of treating the Vuelta as simply a two-rider battle.
Felix Gall remains in contention in the general classification and Richard Carapaz has not had his final say either. In fact, Rojas believes the race is much more open. “Not at all. I think it’s more of a four-way fight. Let’s not forget Richard Carapaz,” he said.
The Ecuadorian has already shown that he can be extremely dangerous on mountain stages and Rojas expects him to play his cards again in Granada. “What he did the last time in Granada as well, I’m sure that on Saturday he’ll try everything, all or nothing,” he explained.
For that reason, the Movistar Team sports director insists it is still too early to make any definitive calculations. “This finishes on Sunday, so until Sunday we have to keep fighting.”
What result would Movistar take in the time trial?
Rojas’s answer makes Movistar’s ideal scenario fairly clear. The team do not necessarily need Enric Mas to win the time trial. Their main objective is to retain the race lead. “We’d be happy just to still be leading,” he said.
From there, the gap to Roglic will be important going into the final two mountain stages. Rojas believes Enric can regain ground in those scenarios after showing throughout this Vuelta that he has been stronger than the Slovenian on the climbs. “Then, day by day, I think we’ve seen that Enric is stronger in the mountains, so anything that leaves us around a minute ahead of Roglic would be good,” he explained.
Asked directly whether Movistar would sign for that one-minute advantage before the time trial, Rojas was emphatic. “Yes, of course. I think that would be a good result.”
The key will be surviving Jerez
Jose Joaquin Rojas’s message is clear: Primoz Roglic is the favourite to win the time trial, but Movistar do not necessarily expect Enric Mas to lose a huge amount of time.
The team believe the Balearic rider’s development, both physically and mentally, can allow him to stay closer to the Slovenian than many are predicting. Above all, they know the Vuelta will not be decided solely in Jerez.
The real priority is to keep the red jersey. If Enric can finish the time trial with around a minute’s advantage over Roglic, Movistar believe they will be in a very favourable position heading into the final two mountain stages.
Because Granada will still come after Jerez. And there, as he has shown during this Vuelta, Enric Mas will once again have the terrain that suits him best to defend the red jersey. “Anything that leaves us around a minute ahead of Roglic would be good,” Rojas summarised.
Now all that remains is to see how much time Roglic can claw back against the clock and, above all, how much Enric Mas can limit his losses. The answer will determine what cards the Movistar Team leader takes into the final two battles for the 2026 Vuelta a Espana.
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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- Try being an escape artist then, free yourself from the chains that bind you hereJumpyjohn09-09-2026
- Peak Roglic maybe. Roglic today very doubtful.mobk09-09-2026
- Roglic is the better time trialist, but taking more than two minutes on Mas over 32km? That would be one hell of a ride. I just don’t see it happening.TheSoigneur09-09-2026
- It's not AI... I'm an artist.PogiSloFans09-09-2026
- maybe if he wins every race left on the calendar offering UCI pointswrsty09-09-2026
- agreed. they have 2 cards depending on what the opposition does and who is strong that daymij09-09-2026
- First see how Wout does in Granada. It is a very similar course
Rafionain-Glas09-09-2026 - WVA to follow MVDP, Remco to follow Del Toro/Sexias. Simple. otherwise attack at different pointsabstractengineer09-09-2026
- All riders think they can become World Champion now Pogacar is not there. That could be fun. 😁
DareDevil09-09-2026 - Is Remco theoretically able to jump over Pogacar? By winning the World Championships, Lombardia, maybe something extra?DareDevil09-09-2026
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