"We don't have the team perform the way we would have liked" - Movistar DS disappointed on lack of support for Enric Mas

The Vuelta a Espana 2024 is approaching its decisive week. Sunday's stage 15 with finish on Cuitu Negru might possibly proved us a key on how the general classification will play out. However, Movistar Team will arrive without aspirations of fighting for the final victory with Enric Mas.

The Balearic rider lost a lot of time to Primoz Roglic on Ancares on Friday. Could have something to do with a lackluster form of his teammates throughout the Vuelta? It is a reality that Enric Mas rides alone, and he has no one who can help him against the strength of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and Soudal - Quick-Step.

In fact, in statements to RTVE, sports director Chente García Acosta admits the reality that the team is facing: "The idea was to ride like at the Tour and the Giro and seeing how Enric is going, we are focused on the general classification. We don't have the team that we would like. We have Pelayo and Oier who have been hurt by the crashes, Canal is also hurt. Nairo and Einer are improving, improving little by little, but we lack a bit of luck."

"The luck that Enric is going very well and that's contagious. Yesterday we were thinking about cutting Ben O'Connor and we did our best, then Enric had a bad moment and couldn't climb as he's used to, it cost him a bit but we didn't lose much and we're still there," added Chente in reference to the aforementioned climb to Ancares in stage 13.

Chente outlines Movistar Team's objectives for the remainder of the year

There is still the Cuitu Negru and a whole third week of Vuelta a Espana, so Enric Mas has to go to and secure at least the final podium of the race. This is what Chente confirms: "First we are going to make sure that Enric is well and then we will go for the podium, the Vuelta is being very hard and uncontrollable, and people are annoyed by the heat, anything can happen with what is left."

"Roglic yesterday went out, he climbed to some high numbers. I think in Hazallanas he was regular, there are stages left and we'll be fighting it out, but he's very strong. They have O'Connor at 1:20, and the poor guy is going down, but there is ground."

To conclude, Chente talks about the mountain days in which Enric Mas can stand out: "Enric doesn't mind the steeper slopes with tomorrow's stage (Cuitu Negru) and the other one (Lagos). The important thing is that he is calm."