On the high-speed, closing descent of stage 9 of the Vuelta a España, Enric Mas (Movistar) got here inside a whisker of a significant crash because the headwind caught his bike and the Spanish GC contender all however skidded off-course.
In a heart-stopping second for TV viewers, cameras confirmed how Mas wobbled spectacularly to his proper and regarded like he would fall.
However fortunately, the sudden distancing of the continual crash limitations working parallel alongside the street working down the aspect of the mountain meant the Movistar racer had the house essential to regain management of his bike.
Fifty metres earlier than or after that time on the descent, a crash at excessive pace would have been inevitable for Mas. However as a substitute, he might proceed with a breakaway effort began on the Alto de Hazallanas, which noticed him achieve almost a minute at one level on high general favorite Primoz Roglič (Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).
Thrice a runner-up within the Vuelta a España and second the day earlier than at Cazorla, Mas was lastly reeled in by the Roglič group close to the end in Granada. However whereas he stated afterwards the near-crash had regarded worse than it actually was, he recognised he had been extraordinarily fortunate – and that his situation continues to bode effectively, too, for the remainder of the Vuelta.
“I feel on TV it regarded scarier than it actually was, principally the wind blew me off target,” Mas instructed reporters after stage 9.
“However simply as effectively I didn’t fall and that that additional house with gravel subsequent to the street was there, as a result of it might have been a extremely nasty crash. I don’t know if it was the roads or the wind, however I had a couple of scary moments on the descents typically, significantly once I was off the entrance on my own.
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“That individual one, I wished to alter my line and I went off target. Simply as effectively that little bit of gravel was there. I’m very grateful I didn’t fall.”
Total, in any case, Mas recognised his Vuelta was going effectively thus far. He was in a position to persist with Roglič each on stage 4 to Villuercas and on the second summit end in Cazorla, and is at the moment working fourth general, 4:35 again of race chief Ben O’Conner (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale).
“I’m happy with the emotions than the rest,” Mas stated about his unprecedented means to drop Roglič in a mountain stage within the Vuelta. ”Lastly my transfer was extra attention-grabbing as a spectacle than gaining time, although if we’d had a summit end at present, it’d have been a distinct story. I simply hope on finishes like at Lagos de Covadonga issues work out otherwise.”
Mas recognised that with so many switches within the narrative on this yr’s Vuelta a España, the race was large open to this point, and it was, he argued, “far more attention-grabbing than the Tour de France”.
“I began the day with the intention of attacking however I didn’t know whether or not to go for it the primary or the second time spherical Hazallanas,” he stated.
“Once I noticed there was a second of weak spot [in the peloton of favourites, I went for it. But the strongest on the climbs today was [stage winner] Adam Yates.”
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🫣 Sure, that gave us a scare too. 🙏 What a save by Enric Mas – @Movistar_Team!🚨 Don’t do that at residence!😰 Sí, también nos hemos pegado el susto. 🙏 Qué salvada de @EnricMasNicolau.🚨 Solo los profesionales pueden bajar a esas velocidades.#LaVuelta24 pic.twitter.com/FyBJhKE03WAugust 25, 2024
