Enric Mas has now racked up as many podium finishes within the Vuelta a España as Primoz Roglič has total wins, however the Movistar staff chief admitted it was not the consequence he was searching for.
He was capable of distance Roglič on some climbs and mountain finishes however solely completed third total, 3:13 down on the Slovenian, and 37 seconds down on second positioned Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R).
Mas began the Vuelta desirous to win.
“I don’t really feel glad and that’s the reality,” Mas stated.
“The staff sacrificed itself within the race for me from starting to finish, not stepping into breaks to battle for particular person wins and I’m very grateful to them for that.”
“I got here near some stage victories and if I had managed to beat Primoz in them I’d have come away with a greater feeling.”
Within the remaining time trial, Mas conserved his third place total however did not dislodge O’Connor regardless of ust a nine-second hole between the 2 previous to the final stage. Opposite to some expectations, O’Connor had a significantly better race in opposition to the clock than Mas in Madrid and consequently, the Australian’s remaining benefit over the Spaniard widened to 37 seconds.
“I’m feeling exhausted after a number of energy-sapping days,” Mas stated, “Earlier than the TT I had the sensation that I may do higher, however I shortly realised within the opening kilometres that this wasn’t going to be my stage.”
“This was my worst day of the Vuelta, given my gentle weight and the time trial being so flat. However throughout the entire race, maybe the day I suffered essentially the most on this Vuelta was on Ancares” – the place he misplaced a minute to Roglič – “and the one I most loved was on the Lagos de Covadonga.”
That stated, the sight of Mas dropping your entire discipline on the Hazallanas stage on the finish of the primary week, confirmed he was in gorgeous kind.
Third might not have been the consequence he was searching for however it helped him regain some badly wanted Grand Tour momentum after a really tough Tour de France.
“We actually don’t know what occurred within the Tour, however I had numerous issues; I suffered on the flat, the climbs and I had two very unhealthy first weeks,” Mas instructed Eurosport on Sunday.
“With endurance and by staying calm, I managed to show issues round within the third week of the Tour and I began feeling significantly better. And this podium on the Vuelta is unquestionably linked to having improved a lot within the final a part of the Tour.”
Mas recognised that he had been extra aggressive and attacked greater than in different editions of the Vuelta. However as he additionally insisted, not having the ability to take a stage win or end larger up on the rostrum meant that “We haven’t been capable of benefit from that.”
Having added a 3rd place within the Vuelta to his second locations of 2018, 2021 and 2022, the 29-year-old is hoping to go to the World Championships in Zurich and battle for the rainbow jersey on the hilly Swiss circuit.
He’ll then full his season within the Italian Classics, the place he claimed his most up-to-date victory, the Giro dell’Emilia, again in October 2022.
