Enric Mas Rising Star

[Akuryo]

Re: Re:

Jungels and Alaphilippe could actually be really amazing support riders for Mas if they sacrifice themselves. Especially Jungels if he does the Kiryienka and sheds everybody in the mountains. But that probably wont happen. QS has never been the "all for one guy" team. They will once again go for stages with 6 different riders instead of putting everybody around Mas.

Fine by me, WTS went all in for Yates last year and we all know how that played out.

They've performed outstanding in GT's, a ridiculous amount of stages and plenty of GC results.

Of course it is/was the correct thing to do as a team but for Mas himself it would be better with full support. And according to this Contador is planning to go World Tour next year with his team and Enric Mas as the leader. Now that would be something...

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Jungels and Alaphilippe could actually be really amazing support riders for Mas if they sacrifice themselves. Especially Jungels if he does the Kiryienka and sheds everybody in the mountains. But that probably wont happen. QS has never been the "all for one guy" team. They will once again go for stages with 6 different riders instead of putting everybody around Mas.

Fine by me, WTS went all in for Yates last year and we all know how that played out.

They've performed outstanding in GT's, a ridiculous amount of stages and plenty of GC results.

Of course it is/was the correct thing to do as a team but for Mas himself it would be better with full support. And according to this Contador is planning to go World Tour next year with his team and Enric Mas as the leader. Now that would be something...

911? Yeah, I have an emergency. LaFlorecita just fainted, can you pick her up?

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

Red Rick has nailed - Quick Step will do an excellent TTT and Mas will do a good ITT - Then it's a matter of following the Sky Train.

You don't think then, that Sky have the same plan for Dawg?

 

[Tim Booth]

Re: Re:

Jungels and Alaphilippe could actually be really amazing support riders for Mas if they sacrifice themselves. Especially Jungels if he does the Kiryienka and sheds everybody in the mountains. But that probably wont happen. QS has never been the "all for one guy" team. They will once again go for stages with 6 different riders instead of putting everybody around Mas.

Fine by me, WTS went all in for Yates last year and we all know how that played out.

They've performed outstanding in GT's, a ridiculous amount of stages and plenty of GC results.

Of course it is/was the correct thing to do as a team but for Mas himself it would be better with full support. And according to this Contador is planning to go World Tour next year with his team and Enric Mas as the leader. Now that would be something...

"according to this Contador is planning to go World Tour next year with his team and Enric Mas as the leader."

of course, this was published on 28 Decemer

 

[Red Rick]

Isn't it the Spanishs aprils fools?

 

[tobydawq]

He seemed to be pretty genuine when saying it, though.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Well, he was serious about the possibility of going WT, but of course he was sort of joking when he said Enric could be the leader.

 

[Akuryo]

Well, I'm not that into Spanish culture and just found out about their version of "april fools". But still, a team change after 2019 is actually pretty likely if he further develops as a gc rider. Cause lets be honest, Deceuninck is many things but not the place for a GT-contender. They have too many interests with classics (both cobbles and hills) and sprint trains that they cant fully support a rider during a grand tour in the mountains. IF they would take everybody they have it still wouldnt be an amazing team. If you compare Serry, Devenyns, Knox and Capecchi with the likes of the Sky train or the amount of mountain helpers at Movistar.

I am a huge fan of the team since forever and would like to keep every good rider but for Enric Mas I think a change in scenery would be the best. Or they actually cut down on the sprint trains and add some more climbers. But Lefevere likes to win and a sub-par sprinter/lead out guy will win more (shitty small) races than a support rider when it goes uphill. Not to forget they are more expensive.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

Red Rick has nailed - Quick Step will do an excellent TTT and Mas will do a good ITT - Then it's a matter of following the Sky Train.

You don't think then, that Sky have the same plan for Dawg?

The fact is that MAS is unlikely to win the TDF - But the two TT's give him a good building block for the TDF - And you have no pressure as a GC contender at Quick Step - Also riding the TDF gives Quick Step more purchase to retain Mas.

 

[Koronin]

Yes Dec 28th is Spain's version of April Fools Day. Would Contador like Mas on his team, I'm sure he would. However, Movistar has also voiced interest in him. If Mas wants a full team around him for a GT GC attempt Movistar (esp if they let both Landa and Quintana go at the end of the year) would be a good choice for him. He'd have Valverde still there to learn from. (Team wants to keep Valverde around as a coach/mentor after he retires, so he'll be there forever one way or another). Plus he'll have a team that knows how to go after GC. Although Contador would love to have him, that is unlikely, although not impossible.

 

[Tim Booth]

Re:

Jungels and Alaphilippe could actually be really amazing support riders for Mas if they sacrifice themselves. Especially Jungels if he does the Kiryienka and sheds everybody in the mountains. But that probably wont happen. QS has never been the "all for one guy" team. They will once again go for stages with 6 different riders instead of putting everybody around Mas.

Het Nieuwsblad says Jungels will ride Giro and might ride Tour in 'a supporting role'.

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

Jungels and Alaphilippe could actually be really amazing support riders for Mas if they sacrifice themselves. Especially Jungels if he does the Kiryienka and sheds everybody in the mountains. But that probably wont happen. QS has never been the "all for one guy" team. They will once again go for stages with 6 different riders instead of putting everybody around Mas.

Fine by me, WTS went all in for Yates last year and we all know how that played out.

They've performed outstanding in GT's, a ridiculous amount of stages and plenty of GC results.

Of course it is/was the correct thing to do as a team but for Mas himself it would be better with full support. And according to this Contador is planning to go World Tour next year with his team and Enric Mas as the leader. Now that would be something...

That would be Awesome. Hopefully Alberto can put together a great support team for him. If anyone knows what it's like to be isolated early it's Alberto!

EDIT: Upon further reading in the thread I find it was said on Spanish April Fool's day. SAD

 

[perico]

Re:

Yes Dec 28th is Spain's version of April Fools Day. Would Contador like Mas on his team, I'm sure he would. However, Movistar has also voiced interest in him. If Mas wants a full team around him for a GT GC attempt Movistar (esp if they let both Landa and Quintana go at the end of the year) would be a good choice for him. He'd have Valverde still there to learn from. (Team wants to keep Valverde around as a coach/mentor after he retires, so he'll be there forever one way or another). Plus he'll have a team that knows how to go after GC. Although Contador would love to have him, that is unlikely, although not impossible.

He's already turned them down to stay with Lefevre before. Mas has little motive to work for either Landa or Nairo (whichever one stays after 2019) at the TdF to be fed scraps from another GT. Plus Movistar already have a super hype in Soler.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Yes Dec 28th is Spain's version of April Fools Day. Would Contador like Mas on his team, I'm sure he would. However, Movistar has also voiced interest in him. If Mas wants a full team around him for a GT GC attempt Movistar (esp if they let both Landa and Quintana go at the end of the year) would be a good choice for him. He'd have Valverde still there to learn from. (Team wants to keep Valverde around as a coach/mentor after he retires, so he'll be there forever one way or another). Plus he'll have a team that knows how to go after GC. Although Contador would love to have him, that is unlikely, although not impossible.

He's already turned them down to stay with Lefevre before. Mas has little motive to work for either Landa or Nairo (whichever one stays after 2019) at the TdF to be fed scraps from another GT. Plus Movistar already have a super hype in Soler.

It's also very possible that both Landa and Quintana leave after 2019. I'd put more on Landa staying than Quintana. However, it wouldn't mean that Mas would be working for Landa. Also Movistar is happy sending a team to GTs with co leaders and thus neither one working for the other. Yes they have Soler, but Mr Unzue has said he would like to get Mas.

 

[Salvarani]

They also have Carapaz.

If Landa and Quintana leaves...

Carapaz, Soler and Mas for the future sound good. (if everybody happy to be there with the situation?)
With Valverde there for another 2 years. (maybe?)

 

[Koronin]

Re:

They also have Carapaz.

If Landa and Quintana leaves...

Carapaz, Soler and Mas for the future sound good. (if everybody happy to be there with the situation?)
With Valverde there for another 2 years. (maybe?)

I think that would be correct. I think they can keep that group happy, at least for awhile. Part of that is due to personalities. Yes Valverde for possibly 2 more years, and then likely will still be around as a coach/mentor. The team has said they'll invent a position to keep him with the team after he no longer is racing. Coach/mentor makes the most sense as to what he'd be most comfortable doing.

 

[Red Rick]

Valverde can just ditch GT GCs after one more Vuelta and he won't interfere with anybody

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Valverde can just ditch GT GCs after one more Vuelta and he won't interfere with anybody

I think that may be his plan. He said in an interview a month or two ago that his best GT GC days are behind him, but that he still would like one more shot at la Vuelta. Of course the next sentence he said if the team requests he still race for GC in GT's he'll still do it. He'll still go to GTs though and can mentor young riders on the team and basically be the team's fallback plan. He said when he was talking about wanting the Giro/Vuelta double that for the Giro he'd go and race for GC if that's what the team asks of him, but if Landa goes he'd help Landa because he feels Landa has a better shot at the Giro GC than he does. For 2020 and possibly 2021 (hopefully) whichever GTs he does it'll be in the role of mentor. Although he'll still be there to take some of the pressure off of whomever the team designates as race leader as he'll still be team leader and thus take on some of the responsibilities of leadership. It could be a good situation for Mas to go to and learn in without full pressure on him.

 

[Moviestar]

Re: Re:

Yes Dec 28th is Spain's version of April Fools Day. Would Contador like Mas on his team, I'm sure he would. However, Movistar has also voiced interest in him. If Mas wants a full team around him for a GT GC attempt Movistar (esp if they let both Landa and Quintana go at the end of the year) would be a good choice for him. He'd have Valverde still there to learn from. (Team wants to keep Valverde around as a coach/mentor after he retires, so he'll be there forever one way or another). Plus he'll have a team that knows how to go after GC. Although Contador would love to have him, that is unlikely, although not impossible.

He's already turned them down to stay with Lefevre before. Mas has little motive to work for either Landa or Nairo (whichever one stays after 2019) at the TdF to be fed scraps from another GT. Plus Movistar already have a super hype in Soler.

Or you could see it in another perspective, Mas and Movistar were interested in each other, but Movistar didn't have the financial resources to sign Mas. So Mas decided to stay one more year with Lefevre and then makes the transfer to Movistar ( assuming Landa/Quintana or both will leave next year)

 

[Red Rick]

The debacle with Quintana and Landa this year should give a rough idea to Mas why he wouldn't want to go there.

 

[Moviestar]

Re:

The debacle with Quintana and Landa this year should give a rough idea to Mas why he wouldn't want to go there.

Landa was not a debacle, before he went into crash-mode he did well in Itzulia, Tirreno and Suisse in support of Quintana. Quintana on the other hand, i agree fully with you.

 

[Red Rick]

Landa already talking of wanting to leave within months of joining the team is a disaster

 

[Moviestar]

Re:

Landa already talking of wanting to leave within months of joining the team is a disaster

Do you have a source on this? I've read multiple interviews where he stated that he feels happy with Movistar.

 

[Red Rick]

l'equipe translation:

Three years after leaving the Astana team, in 2016, for Sky, before joining Movistar this season, Mikel Landa would once again be on the move. He would have offered his services to his former Kazakh employers, imagining himself as the sole leader on the great Tours. He explained that his relations with Nairo Quintana have deteriorated in recent times and that he does not see himself continuing the adventure at Movistar in these conditions, even if he still has one year of contract.

 

[yaco]

Supposedly Viviani is riding the Giro and the Vuelta - So it seems Mas will get more support at the TDF.