Why Enric Mas and Movistar would love to go to the Giro, but in 2025 it will most likely be Tour-Vuelta again

The Vuelta a España and Enric Mas are like two peas in a pod. Since his pro debut 2017, he has only missed the Spanish round once, in 2019. Mas finished four times on the podium in the seven participations in his home round. The Vuelta is like a refreshing ice cream on a hot summer day for the Balearic: it never disappoints. You would think: never change a winning team, but Mas wants to change that in the future.

According to Spanish journalist Javier Ares, who revealed this during the Eurosport broadcast of the final stage of the 2024 Vuelta, Mas may well opt for the Giro d'Italia in 2025. Ares suggested that Mas is considering switching up his familiar racing schedule, consisting of the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España for five seasons. While he often excels on Spanish soil, the Tour remains challenging for the Movistar leader. Despite his successes in the Vuelta, the ultimate victory is missing, which will always remain in the back of his mind.

Following Pogacar Jonas Vingegaard was also thinking about the Giro-Tour double, although Visma | Lease has already denied this via press briefings. And now Mas has joined in. However, the possible change in his program would be a bold move—a surprising idea, especially since the often cold and rainy conditions of the Giro are not exactly in Mas's comfort zone.

Read more below the photo.

Enric Mas finished third in the Vuelta

Movistar must first look for second leader for plan Mas

Ares was undoubtedly right, it now appears. The ambition and will is there. Yet, the wishes and ambitions for 2025 must be put on hold for a while. Eusebio Unzué let it be known in an interview with AS that it is not an option in the short term. Until Mas has a second leader, he must ride both the Tour and the Vuelta. 'Our desire is for Enric to ride the Giro; I think it's a race that would suit him well. I hope that one day there will be an extra leader on the team, so we have the luxury of not having to put Enric in the Tour or La Vuelta,' Eusebio summed up.

All indications are that Vuelta revelation Pablo Castrillo is on his way to Movistar, but he will not, certainly in the short term, be the second leader Unzué desires. In addition, Mas' contract also expires at the end of 2025, but Unzué assures that this will not be a problem. "The idea is to continue with Enric as a leader, especially with a view to the grand tours." Mas himself is also optimistic about this, according to AS. Could the Giro then be on his program in 2026?

Pablo Castrillo

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