Enric Masthird overall in Back to Spainhoping to have a “super week” and celebrate something at Madrid” and assures that “everything still needs to be decided”, without anyone being sure yet.
After a rainy rest day where his team went outside to train, the Movistar boss thought the week that starts this Tuesday with promotion to Lakes of Covadonga may bring many surprises, marking the main day as Saturday White Picon.
“Stage 20 is the day, but before that there are 3 very difficult stages. Tomorrow in Lagos some conclusions can be drawn, but the Picón Blanco stage will be the key,” he indicated.
Before the climb this Tuesday in Lagos de Covadonga, Mas hopes to enjoy the climb, which suits his characteristics, and where the goal is that he has twice been sixth.
“The climb is beautiful. The two times I did it there was fog, and this time I wanted to climb without fog and enjoy the Lakes. It’s a climb that suits me, long, good for me, with something very difficult, like in La Huesera,” he explained.
As the Artá cyclist explained from his hotel near Gijón, his form was perfect, without specifying if it was the best in recent years.
“I’m the same Enric as always, I think I’m at a good level, but Roglic is too. The forces are equal, there’s one week left, the most important. I hope to have a super week and be able to celebrate something in Madrid,” he said.
Mas pointed out that “I am third overall, if I am the strongest I will be the leader, but they are 2 leaders. If Roglic and I are the strongest and if we can take the difference from O’Connor, we will be able to see on Sunday.”
According to Mas, the Vuelta is not closed, “you can still see a lot of differences. If things can happen at 15 km, in 6 days that is more. O’Connor has an advantage and that’s the reality, we have to react.”
On the other hand, though O’Connor leading 1.03 to Roglic and at 2’23 in Mas, the Spaniard does not believe that the “Aussie” cyclist is certain of the podium.
“I don’t think so, anything can still happen. A rider can have a fall, a puncture, a thousand factors can happen, and the podium is by no means guaranteed.”
But he emphasized the support of the fans in the canals, a fact that the Mallorca cyclist appreciates.
“I really notice the support of the people, the fans are with me, I don’t know if they support everyone equally, but they applaud me, they encourage me, and that is an extra motivation. Yesterday, for example , it’s amazing to Cuitu Negru, I thank you all,” he commented.
Source: La Verdad
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