The labels of conservative, career stingy, and calculating are over. Enric Mas, the Popeye of this Vuelta since Pogacar crashed to the ground, decided to launch an attack 11 kilometers from the finish line and left the few who were still standing petrified, devilish pace, champion promotion and restorative minutes, also a cushion for a time trial that is yet to come, his possible Achilles heel. A triumph because Movistar explained that it is not there to govern the race but to catapult its boss, who gives so much to the orbital fights for the red jersey. And the move turned out well for them: But more of a leader, already a solo favorite for the final laurel. The one of the day, in any case, went to the Slovenian Jakob Omzrel (Bahrain), debutant in a major, champion of the amateur Giro the previous year, the confirmation that young people have a hurry and, above all, legs. It was enough for him to get into the good breakaway and, already on the last cliff, shout from the rooftops that he has the engine for a while, and that he went from being tenth overall to sixth.
The stage opened its arms from Vera, land of Almería, and its wide beaches of fine sand, balcony to the Mediterranean, to the largest astronomical observatory in Europe, at the top of Calar, at more than 2,100 meters high, the true test of cotton for Mas because five ports were presented ahead and in order of difficulty, two of third and one of second to finish with the duo of Altos de Velefique and Calar — 30 kilometers with slopes of up to 18%—, two first-class colossi.
From the beginning, already in Alto de Cabecico, there were many attacks because the day, if Movistar was not committed to having the entire race under control, would be conducive to a breakaway, winding and steep terrain, a roller coaster, fallow for the feat. Thus, after numerous diluted attempts, already at the foot of the second port, Alto de Cóbdar, 27 runners sang bingo.
Movistar did not reply, Pontius Pilatos in that war, disinterested in being the boss of the race, far from being the rooster of the peloton, only concerned about Mas's jersey. In the breakaway there were flashy runners, such as Van Aert, Almeida, Castrillo, Johannessen, Berrade and, above all, Omzrel. Many cyclists raised their hands, already aware, still with 100 kilometers to go, that it would be the good escape, since the minutes of advantage accumulated, six at the halfway point of the race; seven when the Alto de Velefique began; but five and a half at the top... A decline that came from the will and madness of Carapaz, who took out the devil suit again, a supersonic attack, a start that left a mark on the asphalt. But everything ended in a see-you-soon because the contenders for the scepter would no longer give any more concessions, because Mas had other plans. Like Omrzel, who, already on the last mountain, put on the turbo to show his license plate to the rest, highway to glory.
Decathlon then launched as usual in this Vuelta, the team busy launching Gall, an electric rhythm that is difficult to digest. A bite to the aspirations of Kuss, Skejlmose and Onley (they hit a crash at the beginning of the stage), who lost the rope, a torment for the others and, incidentally, the natural selection of the strongest, since only Carapaz, Roglic and Mas could follow them, happy for the scorching heat, since not so long ago he jokingly asked that they put heaters on the roads, that he prefers to run at 40 degrees, as was the case, than to 20.
And it was 11 kilometers from the finish where Mas left the rest in the lurch, a sitting attack with a leg grinder, a champion's start. Omrzel won - over a stratospheric Berrade (Kern Pharma) -, whose smile escaped from the feat; and Mas won, who when crossing the finish line looked back. He didn't see anything, just a Vuelta a España that, with those legs, is very difficult for him.
More: “Little by little I'm starting to believe it”
On the roller, as if he had not yet pedaled enough - although it is the most common because it is part of the recovery of elite cyclists - Mas reflected his happiness for the successful stage, for taking 27 seconds over Roglic, Gall and Carapaz, the almost only suitors in the Vuelta, apart from Onley. “I'm happy, I've looked good and, yes, little by little I'm starting to believe it,” he agreed, still panting from the effort, from the recital of being the strongest of the strong.
On the last climb, Mas found the help of his teammate Raúl García Pierna, the breakaway runner who waited to carry him... for a short time. “I would have liked to help him more, but he was very strong and I planned to arrive with more strength,” he said; “But the team does what it can and we are doing very well.” Mas appreciated that: "We have given an image of a solid team with enthusiasm. Well, little by little, because the objective is to enjoy the red 'jersey' and also keep it." They have less left, a time trial and three mountain stages.
A few meters away, showing his teeth, Omrzel, the revelation of the Vuelta, spoke: "I'm not very surprised to have won because I've worked a lot for this. I didn't know when it would be and it was difficult for it to happen in the first grand lap, but I felt very good all day and things went very well for the team, it seemed like we were playing the PlayStation." But it was real life and his gallantry lifted him to sixth place, one in which they will no longer let him get into any more escapes. It is not known if it will be Movistar, which does not seem concerned about these skirmishes, but the one who will surely try is Mas. “Well, let's go little by little,” he claimed again. But his legs dictate otherwise.
