VIDEO: The moment in which Enric Mas asked João Almeida to gift him victory at final Itzulia stage
Cycling
Itzulia Basque Country 2025 came to an end this Saturday with a queen stage that was pure spectacle. Enric Mas gave one of the best performances of his professional career, climbing from 8th to 2nd place in a final general classification that was won by Joao Almeida - and the two had an interesting exchange close to the finish.
The Movistar Team star spent 40 kilometers working at the front of the UAE leader's group because he wanted that podium. In the end, when he had him and Almeida alone in the lead with 5 km to go, at one point he expressly asked him to give him the victory, an interesting moment caught perfectly by the TV broadcast audio.
"Will you let me win? Will you let me win the stage or not?" the Spaniard said. Already previously, he talked to Almeida and Ben Healy when the two wouldn't collaborate with him. In the end Almeida won the stage and overall classification, but the Movistar rider can still enjoy a second place on the day and general classification which puts him on the right track towards the season's Grand Tours.
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Enric Mas: "¿Me dejas ganar?, ¿me dejas la etapa, o no?"#Itzulia2025 pic.twitter.com/iAVloj9WnD
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) April 12, 2025

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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.
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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)...
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