Enric Mas Rising Star

[Red Rick]

Mas today really won a pro one-day road race. He doesn‘t have much punch, so these races don‘t suit him very much.

He obviously still is in great shape. I however think Pogacar is favourite for Il Lombardia.

Mas now will at least try to win Lombardia. On the other hand, Unzue will want him (Mas) to help Valverde to crown his (Valverde’s) career, by winning Lombardia, which will be Valverde‘s last race ever.

Punch is a weird word anyway, as it either means acceleration or bad at short climbnig efforts. Mas has had some really good results in climbs as short as 2-3 minutes at the Vuelta.

 

[Netserk]

Punch is a weird word anyway, as it either means acceleration or bad at short climbnig efforts. Mas has had some really good results in climbs as short as 2-3 minutes at the Vuelta.

So has Nibali. He wasn't punchy either.

 

[Red Rick]

So has Nibali. He wasn't punchy either.

Nibali being bad on short and steep stuff really only happened at the 2017 Vuelta, aside from that it was generally overblown, and Emilia doing 5 repetions in quick succession doesn't hurt either.

I genuinely wonder what time the men would do on San Luca with a parcours like the women.

 

[tobydawq]

Nibali being bad on short and steep stuff really only happened at the 2017 Vuelta, aside from that it was generally overblown, and Emilia doing 5 repetions in quick succession doesn't hurt either.

I genuinely wonder what time the men would do on San Luca with a parcours like the women.

Let's hope you won't get an answer to that question.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Nibali being bad on short and steep stuff really only happened at the 2017 Vuelta, aside from that it was generally overblown, and Emilia doing 5 repetions in quick succession doesn't hurt either.

I genuinely wonder what time the men would do on San Luca with a parcours like the women.

That’s something to put in a box of something that we would never want to happen.

 

[Netserk]

There's a difference between being able to handle very short climbs and being punchy, I'd say. Contador was punchy. Nibali wasn't. Froome was a weird case, but I'd say he wasn't punchy either.

Purito was 10 out of 10 for punch.

 

[perico]

Let’s appreciate just how strong and aggressive Mas has looked. It seems like hitting rock bottom and rebounding has finally given him real confidence in his abilities. One of the frustrations for fans of Mas is that he has all the physical capabilities to be an elite rider, but had yet to put it all together. It always seemed mental and he was timid. Really since about halfway through the Vuelta it seems he’s finally comfortable with who he is as a rider.

 

[gregrowlerson]

I’m becoming convinced that if Mas wants to finish on the podium in July would be to ride the Giro first as tuneup. Not gonna happen cause Vuelta but he seems to find his best form with more days in his legs

Solid suggestion.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Great finish of 2022 season. I was expecting some of that that at queen stage at Vuelta. Nonetheless a superb season finish. And i guess now that Valverde has finished his career. Mas will try to take the spotlight in 2023 season.

 

[Oldermanish]

Great finish of 2022 season. I was expecting some of that that at queen stage at Vuelta. Nonetheless a superb season finish. And i guess now that Valverde has finished his career. Mas will try to take the spotlight in 2023 season.

Reading today that he suffered from fear of descending makes it that much more explainable why he didn't enjoy the Tour. That's a hard fear to overcome, particularly in the GTs where it's almost always balls out.

 

[tobydawq]

Reading today that he suffered from fear of descending makes it that much more explainable why he didn't enjoy the Tour. That's a hard fear to overcome, particularly in the GTs where it's almost always balls out.

Impressive how he managed to get on top of the fear before the Vuelta.

 

[Koronin]

Impressive how he managed to get on top of the fear before the Vuelta.

Possible home roads would have helped?

 

[tobydawq]

Possible home roads would have helped?

I doubt it...

 

[Oldermanish]

I doubt it...

It couldn't hurt to know both roads and how weather affects them. Alot of riders can't deal with wet pavement and work against themselves with too much tension. Once you begin to react to terrain rather than see through it you are going backwards.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

There wasn’t much wet pavement in the tour where Mas struggled down the mountains..?

 

[Cookster15]

There wasn’t much wet pavement in the tour where Mas struggled down the mountains..?

The below excellent quote applies equally to descending mountains as cobbles:

Once you begin to react to terrain rather than see through it you are going backwards

I think this is where Mas needs to work on?

 

[Oldermanish]

There wasn’t much wet pavement in the tour where Mas struggled down the mountains..?

You're correct and Mas felt he had a problem in the Tour pretty much everywhere.
I was responding to a generalized idea that home roads in the Vuelta (or any rider's familiar training grounds) might contribute to more confidence.

 

[Oldermanish]

The below excellent quote applies equally to descending mountains as cobbles:



I think this is where Mas needs to work on?

He sounds like he's adjusted. There wasn't much elaboration and my response on "visioning" your path is applicable to so many sports that operate on variable courses. Car racing, motoX, skiing.
Cobbles is a great example. You'd better be seeing the pave' you're going to ride on in 10 meters and guess at what the guy in front of you will do. You can't always guess right but the great guys seem to know where to see the course and how to respond. The fan debate about GT riders maybe winning Roubaix is a good example of an unknown until our heroes attempt it.

 

[Cookster15]

He sounds like he's adjusted. There wasn't much elaboration and my response on "visioning" your path is applicable to so many sports that operate on variable courses. Car racing, motoX, skiing.
Cobbles is a great example. You'd better be seeing the pave' you're going to ride on in 10 meters and guess at what the guy in front of you will do. You can't always guess right but the great guys seem to know where to see the course and how to respond. The fan debate about GT riders maybe winning Roubaix is a good example of an unknown until our heroes attempt it.

Yours was a great post and I have experienced this myself. When you are riding confidently you see through rather than react. As you said, when you react it’s already too late - you lost time. You are also right that this is the key skill in being a fast driver.

 

[perico]

Glad to see the Mas thread not languishing on page 6. Hopefully he has conquered his fear because the Mas we saw after the TDF was an exciting rider.

 

[Nick2413]

Mas is strong. If not for Pogacar he’d likely have quite a few wins lately and a monument.

 

[Eeslliw]

Mas is strong. If not for Pogacar he’d likely have quite a few wins lately and a monument.

If not for a Pogacar many people would have many wins

 

[ice&fire]

If not for a Pogacar many people would have many wins

Masnada agrees

 

[Salvarani]

Mas is on another level since after the Vuelta.

He won Giro dell'Emilia last year, which I would say is his most prestigious win yet over his stage-win in the Vuelta.

Hope he is able to hold this level throughout the year and win a couple races or a big one.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Its just unlucky timing for Mas to compete against Evenepoel and Pogacar. Sure, that can be said about a lot of guys, but dumb Mas in literally any other period and he'd win more. He needs at least one Vuelta, but now the problem is you have these young Spaniards in the future.

But again, Carlos Sastre won a Tour de France, so Enric Mas sure as hell can also win one.