The war from Colombia against Enric Mas begins: "He doesn't look favorably on Nairo Quintana's return"
Cycling
Nairo Quintana has only been back with Movistar Team for a few days and the Colombian press has not taken long to begin to start stirring up trouble within the team's structure. Specifically with Enric Mas, who they say "does not look very favorably on the return of the Colombian".
In an article published by the Antena 2 colleagues, it is stated that "Nairo Quintana would have his first contradictor in his return to Movistar". Delving into the 'news', it talks about Movistar failing to win any grand tour stage wins since Richard Carapaz won the 2019 Giro d'Italia and hints that Enric Mas has not been happy with Nairo's arrival.
Thus, it is even said that the Mallorcan is already considering that at a given moment he should work for Nairo: "The Iberian rider knows that the danger of having Nairo on his back is important. The hypothetical situation that puts them both with options to fight for a general classification can lead him to have to work for the Boyacense (from Boyaca, ed.)".
What is serious about the news is not that there is speculation that Enric could be Nairo's domestique (that will be defined on the road), but that Enric Mas, who has not spoken to ANY media, is not happy with the signing: "This situation has generated a conflict for the Spaniard who does not see the return of the Colombian in a very good light".
Nairo Quintana has been a year without competing, Movistar Team gives him the opportunity to return, the rider makes it clear that he wants to start from scratch and that he is no longer seeking to win overall classifications right away as he has in the past.
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Article written by Juan Larra (@MrGladbach)
Mas -2025 contract, Quintana -2024 only. There is no question of who is valued more by the team. The press is manufacturing something that is not even there to drum up interest in the home country.
I really dislike this jingoistic support of a rider. They should be thanking Movistar for giving Nairo the chance to race again when no one else wanted him . Instead they instantly try to stir up trouble. How do the Colombian press know what Enric Mas thinks when he has given no interviews? They should be able to support someone without resorting to nastiness particularly when it is aimed at another rider. I have enjoyed watching Nairo race since his arrival in Europe. I also think that the way he was treated in the last year was unfair. He has however been out of competition for more than a year and needs to prove his level. He also hasn't been able to compete against the top three riders in the grand tours for several years. Personally I can't see either Nairo or Enric being more than top ten in the Grand Tours again unless the current superstars don't turn up. Their job for Movistar will be to work together and gain points wherever and whenever they can.
And what has Mas done in his GC career to warrant him being such a 'star' ? Nothing !
Not a superstar but he has gained three second places in La Vuelta and top tens in Le Tour and La Vuelta. Doesn't compare to Nairo of course but he deserves some respect.
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