"We already know who is the rival to beat" - Strong Enric Mas matches Primoz Roglic on brutal final climb of stage 4 at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana

Enric Mas impressively managed to hold the pace of Primoz Roglic on the very hard ascent to the Villuercas pass in the finale of stage 4 at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana. After finishing fourth, the Mallorcan is now third in the general classification.

After the finish, the Movistar Team leader spoke to the Spanish media confirming that he had felt very strong. He was asked about his feelings. "Very good. Let's hope it continues like this for the whole Vuelta. We've arrived in a small group of 6-7 and the differences are important," Mas reflected honestly.

He managed to hang on to Roglic on the very steepest ramps of Villuercas and Mas did not hide delight to be back competing with the very best after a rough season so far. "That's my place," he insists. "I felt good, I hope to enjoy the whole Vuelta."

He is clear who is the rival to beat to try to win the Vuelta a Espana however. "You have seen, the whole stage has been controlled by Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and Primoz has won at the end," he assesses. "They have raced well, they have taken the victory. The collaboration was that Primoz was going well, I passed him once or twice. We can see the legs he has, we already know who is the rival to beat".

Thus, after the first time trial and the first mountain stage, Enric Mas is third in the general classification, 32 seconds behind Primoz Roglic and 24 seconds behind Joao Almeida, who has given the impression of having one point less than the Spaniard in the mountains. Behind him, he has the surprising Antonio Tiberi, Lennert Van Eetvelt and Felix Gall, but he has managed to take time from dangerous rivals such as Sepp Kuss, Carlos Rodriguez, Matias Skjelmose, Mikel Landa and Adam Yates.