On Thursday’s final climb, Enric Mas tried to challenge leader Remco Evenepoel, but our compatriot was supreme in the 18th stage.
Evenepoel beat Mas in the sprint on the Alto del Piornal and took off with bonus seconds. The Spaniard has to pull out all the stops today and tomorrow to knock Evenepoel off the red throne.
“I don’t think Mas can threaten Evenepoel anymore,” begins Christophe Vandegoor, who closely follows the Vuelta for Sporza in Spain. “Mas has already tried it a few times in previous rides, but that is just a bit of a tickle. Evenepoel is immediately in his wheel.”
Mas still has two chances to change the lead of the 22-year-old rider of Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl.
“The Spaniard is a good rider, but there is a pressure on his shoulders from the Spanish cycling people. He carries the legacy of Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez,” said Vandegoor.
Alberto Contador is the last Spanish winner of the Vuelta. 8 years later, Mas can change that, but according to Vandegoor that is not a must. “In his mind, Mas is already more than happy that he is in 2nd place on the final podium in Madrid on Sunday.”
Two tough mountain stages remain for the last stage in Madrid.
Vandegoor: “Tomorrow’s ride is very tough with a lot of altimeters. We expect a barrage of attacks. Will Evenepoel respond to attacks from numbers 5 and 6 in the standings or will he only concentrate on his closest attacker, Enric Mas?”
“Evenepoel has proven that he can control. Without a phenomenal breakdown, a fall or bad luck, in principle nothing can happen to Evenepoel,” concludes Vandegoor.
