‘We’ve got a lot of Vuelta a España left’ – Enric Mas heartened after Primoz Roglič duel on Cuitu Negru

His voice may have been muffled by his face mask, but Enric Mas’ words in the media scrum atop Cuitu Negru still had the sound of a rallying cry. “Tenemos mucha Vuelta,” he said – we’ve got a lot of Vuelta a España left.

Atop the Puerto de Ancares on Friday evening, one wondered if Mas was slowly putting aside thoughts of winning this Vuelta. The Spaniard had impressed across the opening half of the race, always present and correct whenever Primoz Roglič accelerated, but he suffered the indignity of being burnt off the Slovenian’s wheel in the finale of stage 13, losing a minute in the process.