“He’s only going to get better; until now, he was practically just training”: the warning about Roglič for Enric Mas

The Vuelta a España enters its second week with a completely different scenario than what seemed to be unfolding just a few days ago. The absence of Tadej Pogačar has left Enric Mas at the top of the general classification, but it has also opened up a race in which Primož Roglič is increasingly emerging as his main threat.

Roglič threatens Mas's leadership and Red Bull warns: "He will only get better"

Enric Mas enters the second week dressed in red after winning at the Alto de Aitana, where he also managed to slightly extend his lead over several of his main rivals. The Movistar rider now leads the general classification by 1:18 over Primož Roglič, 1:39 over Felix Gall, and 2:20 over Oscar Onley. 

Two weeks of racing still represent too much ground to consider any of those differences solid, and within Movistar itself, they are clear about which name represents the most evident threat.

"With Roglič's history in La Vuelta, he is the one I personally worry about the most looking towards Granada," Mas acknowledged during the rest day.

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It's not surprising. Roglič currently shares the record of four victories in La Vuelta with Roberto Heras, and a fifth would make the Slovenian the most decorated cyclist in the history of the race. But another factor that worries Movistar even more is that his best version might still be yet to come.

Fisher-Black expects Roglič to improve as the days go by

Finn Fisher-Black, Roglič's teammate at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, explained on the Domestique podcast that the team arrived at La Vuelta not knowing exactly what performance their leader could offer.

The reason was the accident Roglič suffered during a training session at the end of July. The accident left him with a significant bruise on one leg, forced him to stay off the bike for several days, and made him withdraw from both the Clásica de San Sebastián and the Vuelta a Burgos, the two competitions he was supposed to use to complete his preparation before La Vuelta.

Fisher-Black, who was training with him when the accident occurred, claims that Roglič was really affected.

"His leg was practically all bruised. He had trouble getting on the bike, and I think he was off it for a week," explained the New Zealander.

Precisely for this reason, Red Bull considers what he has achieved during the first nine days of racing particularly significant.

"This first week has been really good, and I think he will only get better because he is basically training. Just a few weeks ago, he couldn't ride a bike, and now he is rebuilding his engine. I think he will really shine in the last week," Fisher-Black assured.

The very development of Aitana already left some clues. Mas was the strongest, and Onley was the only one who held on until the end, but Roglič managed to come back initially after the Spanish attack and finished third, just 12 seconds behind the winner. In the general classification, he remains 1:18 behind, a still small difference considering all that lies ahead.

Fisher-Black also believes he can detect a change in his leader's attitude as he regains his sensations. According to him, the more relaxed Roglič is, the better he tends to perform, and now he is starting to regain confidence after the doubts caused by the accident.

Pogačar's absence changes what is at stake

Red Bull asserts that Pogačar's withdrawal does not significantly alter their way of racing because their references are still the same men they were competing against behind the Slovenian.

"Mas, Onley, Gall... they are the same ones we were racing against before," explained Fisher-Black.

But the big difference is that now winning La Vuelta is possible.

The tactical situation also initially benefits Roglič. Movistar has the red jersey and must bear part of the burden of controlling the race, while Red Bull can continue to protect their leader without yet carrying that responsibility. Fisher-Black even hopes to have some freedom to seek breaks and stages while Roglič remains focused on the general classification.

Enric Mas is aware of all this and, at least publicly, wants to avoid turning these two weeks into a permanent obsession with defending the lead. His immediate goal is to keep the red and force his rivals to take risks.

Unzué warns: Roglič is not the only problem

Movistar also does not want all the attention to focus solely on the four-time Vuelta winner.

Eusebio Unzué agrees with Mas in pointing to the Slovenian as a fundamental reference, but he has expanded the list of candidates.

"I agree with Enric, but let's not forget about Onley, who was already fourth in the Tour, or Gall, who is showing great form," explained the Movistar manager on Radio MARCA.

The classification supports that caution. Gall is third at 1:39, and Onley, after being the only rider able to follow Mas's decisive attack in Aitana, occupies fourth place at 2:20. Richard Carapaz is already somewhat further back, fifth at 3:26.

Movistar will also have to get used to controlling the race from the lead, a situation they haven't encountered in a grand tour for some time. Unzué recalls that fighting for the general classification has historically been part of the team's identity, and Mas believes they won't have to do all the work in every stage, especially on days meant for sprints or favorable for breaks.

The second week thus begins with Mas in a position that just a few days ago seemed unlikely. Pogačar is no longer there, but ahead remain Roglič, Gall, and Onley.