Mas -8th overall- ‘survives’ Alpine rain within podium contenders
03 July 2021

Tour de France (st. 8)

Spaniard from Movistar Team at 'humans' group' behind otherworldly Pogacar (UAD), new leader as he put more than 3' on all other GC candidates with legendary exhibition at Romme / Colombière.

Enric Mas (Movistar Team) got himself through a really difficult day, the first big mountain stage in the 2021 Tour, alongside most of the big favourites behind an absolutely sensational exhibition from Tadej Pogacar (UAD), who destroyed his opposition on the big cols near the end -Romme (Cat-1) and Colombière (Cat-1 + Bonus)- with a long-range move to put more than 3′ on all of them at the finish in Le Grand-Bornand.

López into one of the early break attempts. (c) BettiniPhoto

The Telefónica-backed squad had to face a number of setbacks during Saturday’s effort. We can start with Carlos Verona’s suffering, his blows and bruises due to yesterday’s crash greatly affecting him. A mechanical from Miguel Ángel López early into the stage, right as the breakaway was forming –a group not sticking until 75km in-. And once into the move containing day’s winner Teuns (TBV), the cold feeling due to the rain ruined Alejandro Valverde‘s chances, the former World Champion having to stop to put on new clothes.

Against those circumstances, with a strong solo effort, Mas got through the day with intelligence, staying with the main contenders and even leading the final descent before his group eventually caught Carapaz (IGD), the last rider to follow Pogacar’s moves.

Mas at the finish. (c) BettiniPhoto

Mas, now 8th overall, sits into a group of seven riders -Lutsenko (APT), Urán (EFN), Vingegaard (TJV), Carapaz, Kelderman (BOH) and Gaudu (GFC), as well as the Spaniard-, now just over a minute apart and all behind Wout Van Aert (TJV, 2nd), which should be contesting the podium places.

The second, final Alpine stage will be covered on Sunday, with plenty of big climbs again: Domancy (Cat-2), Saisies (Cat-1), Pré (HC), Cormet de Roselend (Cat-2) and the finish at Tignes (Cat-1).

Cover picture (c): BettiniPhoto

Male Team 26 Jun - 18 Jul

Tour de France FRA

(8th Stage) Oyonnax - Le Grand-Bornand (151 km)
  1. 01 Dylan Teuns Bahrain Victorious 3h54'41"
  2. 02 Ion Izagirre Astana - Premier Tech +44"
  3. 03 Michael Woods Israel Start-Up Nation +47"
  4. 12 Enric Mas Movistar Team +4'09"
  5. 42 Miguel Ángel López Movistar Team +21'47"
  6. 91 Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team +35'01"
  7. 92 Iván García Cortina Movistar Team "
  8. 97 Imanol Erviti Movistar Team "
  9. 101 Carlos Verona Movistar Team "
  10. 132 Jorge Arcas Movistar Team "
See prov general ranking
  1. 01 Tadej Pogacar UAE Team Emirates 29h38'25"
  2. 02 Wout Van Aert Jumbo - Visma +1'48"
  3. 03 Alexey Lutsenko Astana - Premier Tech +4'38"
  4. 08 Enric Mas Movistar Team +5'15"
  5. 32 Miguel Ángel López Movistar Team +26'15"
  6. 65 Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team +44'22"
  7. 70 Iván García Cortina Movistar Team +46'17"
  8. 88 Imanol Erviti Movistar Team +54'43"
  9. 119 Carlos Verona Movistar Team +1h05'54"
  10. 142 Jorge Arcas Movistar Team +1h13'12"
See stage ranking