Mas: “Without Pogačar, everything has changed. We are all at the same level”

Enric Mas says Tadej Pogačar’s departure has transformed the Vuelta a España. With the Slovenian no longer in the race, Mas believes the remaining contenders have been brought onto more equal terms.

“Of course the Vuelta has changed without Tadej. Now we are all at the same level. Tactically, we are prepared for whatever comes. Tadej would go clear whenever he wanted, and now I will have to calculate my moves because I do not have his legs,” Mas told reporters after the finish in Lorca.

Mas did not expect to wear the leader’s red jersey, but said he was enjoying the position and hoped to keep it. He holds what he described as a comfortable and important advantage before Thursday’s stage, which includes the climbs of Velefique and Calar Alto. His approach will depend on his condition after the accumulated fatigue of the race.

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Of course the Vuelta has changed without Tadej. Now we are all at the same level. Tactically, we are prepared for whatever comes. Tadej would go clear whenever he wanted, and now I will have to calculate my moves because I do not have his legs.

“I have some really bad memories of the climb to Calar Alto, in 2017, because I was ill that day,” Mas said. He recalled arriving alongside his masseur, Juanjo Lobato, who had been a sprinter. The two still joke about how closely they finished that day.

Alejandro Valverde, Spain’s national cycling selector and a longtime Movistar figure, visited the team in Cartagena. Mas said the team had spoken briefly with Valverde before preparing for the stage.

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I have some really bad memories of the climb to Calar Alto, in 2017, because I was ill that day.