Enric Mas Rising Star

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

Not just "good" results, he had a brilliant year so far and he can continue down this road if he wins the Tour d'Alsace. Queen stage tomorrow and he's the big favorite alongside Frankiny & Reyes. Maybe he's just preparing for the Tour de l'Avernir though, just like he was preparing for Savoie/Aosta in the Peace Race.

Not sure if Etixx is the best team for him though. Their record with GC riders isn't that great and they already have a phenomenal talent with De Plus.

By the moment anything tells me De Plus is potentially better climber and more interesting prospect than Mas. De Plus is not doing bad at the moment taking into acount he's a neoprofessional rider, but as a gifted climber he has never dominated on the mountains or stage races in any category. And Mas is doing it this year. Actually the spaniard is more complete rider.
Like KyoGrey i think is a great decission signing with Ettix skipping Movistar, he will get free role to show GT contender abilities.

This is ridiculous. De Plus is an incredible talent as well, arguably the bigger of the two

No way. He has never won a big U23 stage race. Mas already did.

Again, De Plus never had a third year in the U23 category, Mas did and won his stage races in that year (same with a lot of other guys like Vervaeke en few years back). You can't use that as an argument to show Mas is more talented than De Plus. Next you guys are gonna say that Hofstede and Frankiny are bigger talents cause they won a stage race.

Don't get me wrong, I really like Mas and I'm not even a fan of De Plus but you can't say that Mas is the bigger talent just cause he won something in his third year.

Exactly this ^

 

[Cannibal72]

This has to be the 10th future multiple tdf winner I have read about this year

I mean is it really necessary to make a thread for anyone who shows potential? Let's give those talents some time before we overhype them.

We must never criticise the hyping of young talents, because in five years' time it will give us much satisfaction/amusement.

On a completely separate note, have you read the OP in the Keldermerckx thread?

 

[Moviestar]

Mas comes from the youth team of Contador which is sponsored by Specialized. Etixx also uses Specialized, so Specialized ''placed'' him with Etix. No chance for Movistar (Canyon).

 

[Red Rick]

In 15 years, Mas fanboys and de Plus fanboys will give each other hell, and I will look back upon this thread, where a feud between fandoms was born.

jk though

 

[KyoGrey]

Re:

Mas comes from the youth team of Contador which is sponsored by Specialized. Etixx also uses Specialized, so Specialized ''placed'' him with Etix. No chance for Movistar (Canyon).

That was true, but they have started to use Look bikes this year.

Here is a nice interview, where he certainly shows some ambition looking into the future:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX9KPirhxeY

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Mas comes from the youth team of Contador which is sponsored by Specialized. Etixx also uses Specialized, so Specialized ''placed'' him with Etix. No chance for Movistar (Canyon).

Of course, he is at Klein Constantia this year which is Etixx' feeder team. The Fundacion Contador seems to have an agreement with them, already 3 riders moved to that team
I also read a few months ago that Fran Contador (Alberto's brother and manager) is also the manager for some of the riders of the Fundacion, one of them being Enric. In that case, it makes even more sense, as Alberto was never big friends with Movistar so perhaps Fran convinced him Etixx was the best option.

 

[Moviestar]

Re: Re:

Mas comes from the youth team of Contador which is sponsored by Specialized. Etixx also uses Specialized, so Specialized ''placed'' him with Etix. No chance for Movistar (Canyon).

Of course, he is at Klein Constantia this year which is Etixx' feeder team. The Fundacion Contador seems to have an agreement with them, already 3 riders moved to that team
I also read a few months ago that Fran Contador (Alberto's brother and manager) is also the manager for some of the riders of the Fundacion, one of them being Enric. In that case, it makes even more sense, as Alberto was never big friends with Movistar so perhaps Fran convinced him Etixx was the best option.

He was close with them at least three times. After the end of Liberty Seguros-Wurth, Unzue could choose between Alberto and Luis Leon, but he chose for Luis Leon eventually.

Then again in 2009, but Unzue couldn't find a extra sponsor to sign Contador for Caisse, Contador couldn't wait and chose for Saxo. And at the start of the Movistar Project, Contador was approached but yet again Unzue couldn't give him guarantees.

 

[saganftw]

cant wait for "No Mas" memes

 

[Samamba]

A bit disappointing today in the Queen stage of the Tour d'Alsace.
Probably just preparing for the Tour de l'Avenir thought just like he did in the Peace Race.

 

[Thepirateisgood]

The word "hype" of juniors/U's are just too quick to build in some cycling fans' perspectives. Mas is good, but still dependent on the right way(slow, fast, GT/no GT who knows?) up to prolevel. And I see theories of if x-rider was with y-manager etc.. Look at the seniors that "should have been sooooooo great, like Merxx".
I mean there is pressure of media from first time GT cyclists like this tour of Buchmann, Holst Enger, Mclay and the like. They did more than ok, but still it's like why they didn't do better?

Too much, this is a hard sport.

 

[Charly_Gaul]

Re:

A bit disappointing today in the Queen stage of the Tour d'Alsace.
Probably just preparing for the Tour de l'Avenir thought just like he did in the Peace Race.

He said in an interview a few days ago that he'd be helping his teammates here. Yes is clearly on set-up.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

well, lets see when the boy drops the nappy....

 

[LaFlorecita]

Tour Down Under will be Enric's first WT race
I cannot say how excited and proud I am, having followed his progress since he joined Alberto's junior team in 2013. I see a big future for him. Vamos!

 

[Gigs_98]

Tour Down Under will be Enric's first WT race
I cannot say how excited and proud I am, having followed his progress since he joined Alberto's junior team in 2013. I see a big future for him. Vamos!

He looks a bit like andy schleck on that picture. You sure that you will root for him in the future?

 

[LaFlorecita]

He looks a bit like andy schleck on that picture. You sure that you will root for him in the future?

It's just a bad photo

 

[Red Rick]

The Sky Train will not last
Against the might Enric Mas

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

The Sky Train will not last
Against the might Enric Mas

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

The Sky Train will not last
Against the might Enric Mas

We'll make up the rest as we go I guess

 

[Akuryo]

Well, Vakoc was supposed to be the captain for Quickstep at TDU but after 2 stages Mas is already better palced than Vakoc in the gc. Maybe he can do something on Wilunga Hill

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Well, Vakoc was supposed to be the captain for Quickstep at TDU but after 2 stages Mas is already better palced than Vakoc in the gc. Maybe he can do something on Wilunga Hill

Very excited about his performance, it is better than I had hoped for, hoping for more of the same on Willunga

 

[Red Rick]

Lol. I hadn't even noticed TDU was underway

 

[Gigs_98]

Great showing by him today. What is his schedule for this year? Will he already ride a gt?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Great showing by him today. What is his schedule for this year? Will he already ride a gt?

I hope not. I want to see him get a chance to ride for himself in smaller races, so far he has raced 4 WT events and one HC event. Not sure how many mountainous smaller stage races QuickStep will ride, though.

 

[Akuryo]

Great showing by him today. What is his schedule for this year? Will he already ride a gt?

I hope not. I want to see him get a chance to ride for himself in smaller races, so far he has raced 4 WT events and one HC event. Not sure how many mountainous smaller stage races QuickStep will ride, though.

They started to put more effort into their climbing squad so maybe they added some races to their usual calendar. Almost every neo-pro this year is a decent climber with Mas. Schachmann, Cavagna and the addition of Capecchi. They also still have Dan Martin, Brambilla, Serry and Jungels. I guess all those riders would prefer a more mountainous schedule ...

In the past few years it was cobbles and sprints only but now they have the riders to at least somewhat compete in other races. So there is hope

 

[Carols]

This guy is impressing me! How long is his contract with QS? He may become a stage race star. But QS doesn't seem to be the best fit for that.