Stefan Tabeling, dpa
Amidst the cheers of his compatriots, Enric Mas crossed the finish line in Granada arm in arm with his team-mates. After all the unfulfilled expectations and, at times, scathing criticism, the 31-year-old Mallorcan has finally achieved his dream. Twelve years after Alberto Contador’s last triumph, Spain has a Vuelta winner once again.
On the final stage, covering 112 kilometres and won by the Norwegian Tobias Halland Johannessen, Mas safely defended his red jersey to the finish on the circuit in Granada, after four-time overall winner Primož Roglič from Slovenia and the Austrian Felix Gall were no longer able to pose a threat to him on the final mountain stages.
“I had a brilliant time throughout the whole Vuelta. Everything went brilliantly; I enjoyed every kilometre,” said Mas, adding: “I’ve been through many difficult moments over the course of the race, but winning the Vuelta without suffering is impossible. You work towards experiencing a day like this. It’s what I’ve been dreaming of.”
Second place three times and third place once
For years, Mas lived under immense pressure back home to follow in Contador’s footsteps. He finished second three times and third once in the Vuelta – not enough for cycling fans in Spain, who had long been accustomed to success. The fact that he finally managed it made his predecessor, Contador, happy too.
“It often seems as though a performance is worth nothing unless you win. That is why, with this Vuelta victory, the cycling world will finally give Enric Mas the recognition he deserves,” Contador told the Spanish newspaper *AS*. The ‘Pistolero’ once dominated an era, having won the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia twice each, as well as the Vuelta three times.
Footsteps that were too big for Mas to follow. And had superstar Tadej Pogacar – who was clearly in the lead – not suffered that fateful crash on the eighth stage, it would scarcely have been enough this time either. But once the world champion was out of the race, Mas rose to the occasion in the red jersey. He won the mountain stage on the Alto de Aitana and even displayed entirely new qualities in the individual time trial – a discipline that is not at all part of his repertoire. Yet Mas did not allow himself to fall more than 33 seconds behind the veteran champion Roglic – the Olympic time trial champion from Tokyo.
The final lap on Sunday was neutralised
On the 21st and final stage, he then had nothing more to fear. This was partly because the times for the general classification had already been frozen well over ten kilometres from the finish, before the final lap. In doing so, the organisers complied with the riders’ request, as they had highlighted the dangerous nature of the course. The Tour organisers had also taken a similar measure in Paris.
“It’s been many, many years since a Spaniard won a Grand Tour. And not only that: they’ve hardly played a leading role either. Personally, I’m really happy for Enric; it’s a wonderful feeling,” added Contador. In recent years, Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Roglic have left little for others in the Grand Tours.
“This time, one of the major stage races was up for grabs, and Enric seized the opportunity. It wasn’t a gift, but the result of his hard work and his outstanding form,” emphasised Contador. Mas had once been groomed for professional cycling in Contador’s youth team. On Sunday, the circle was complete.
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