Movistar is bursting with self-confidence after the first week of the Vuelta a Espana. With Enric Mas in second place in the general classification, 28 seconds behind Primoz Roglic, the Spanish team dares to dream of the overall victory.
“We have an idea how to beat Primoz Roglic,” Mas says. “The only way to knock Roglic off the throne is if we work as a team. We started to overtake all possible rivals.”
“I came out of the Tour de France well, but maybe I still lacked a bit of confidence there. Luckily I wasn’t exhausted afterwards. I rested well, and now I have the confidence I lacked. After years as a professional and years of hard work, I found myself at the Velefique in an unprecedented situation. The first two of the standings in a hand-to-hand fight,” he says about his duel with Roglic.
Miguel Angel Lopez lost more than half a minute on the final climb on Sunday. However, he is still third, at 1’21” from the red jersey.
“I reacted to Adam Yates’ attacks because he was dangerous. If he would rode away, we would have to work,” the Colombian said. “When Enric and Roglic were in front, I couldn’t attack anymore because I would close the gap.”
Yet Mas and Lopez do not want to focus on Roglic and Jumbo-Visma.
“Every team has its strategy. Ineos Grenadiers has a Giro and Tour winner in Bernal, and Adam Yates should not be excluded either,” says Mas.
Lopez adds: “Egan is still within two minutes. They may not have had their day at the Velefique, but demanding days are still ahead.”
