Enric Mas embraces change for 2026: 'I feel I have to try new things'

Mas admitted to MARCA at Thursday's team presentation in Valencia that the last months have required patience. He underwent surgery on his left leg in October and has since been returning gradually, training at a pace set by his recovery rather than by the calendar. 

He feels the process is still ongoing but the motivation remains. “It has been a long process and I am still in it, little by little,” he said, explaining why he wanted a different rhythm for the new season. “I want to take a break from France for a few years or a few months, let’s put it that way, and then we will decide. I feel I have to try new things.”

Mas also welcomed the idea of sharing responsibilities with new signing Cian Uijtdebroeks. “There is no pressure. The team has strengthened well. Apart from Cian, a few very good riders have arrived, including Spaniards, so in that sense it is very good.”

That same point was central to Unzué’s thinking when he spoke to MARCA. The Movistar team boss believes the reshaped calendar can benefit Mas on several levels, and he sees Uijtdebroeks as a key part of spreading responsibility across the season. 

“That is the idea,” Unzué said when asked if Uijtdebroeks can share leadership with Mas. “We are hopeful that he will settle in and be able to share leadership and responsibility with Enric. With Enric, we are also confident of a kind of kilometre zero, that his recovery will mark a new beginning. With some small adjustments to his programme, we hope to see him go into the season feeling very motivated.”

Mas’s new calendar is built around a clear change of scenery. Rather than returning straight back to the familiar pressure of July in France, he will target the Giro d’Italia and then return later in the year for La Vuelta, a race he has always held in special regard with GC podiums in '18, '21, '22 and '24.

Asked about the Italian race itself, Mas made it clear the route appeals to him. “Yes, I like it. I like it a lot,” he said, framing the Giro as both a sporting target and a fresh stimulus at this stage of his career.

Unzué echoed that view, pointing to the mental benefit of stepping away from France for a while. “Putting a bit of distance between him and the Tour, given the responsibility he has carried there in recent years, could do him a lot of good,” he said. “He has worked very hard to shine in that race and unfortunately it has not always given him back what he deserved.”

Beyond the Grand Tours, Mas also confirmed that the World Championships in Montréal are part of his plans. “It is something I have in my sights,” he said.

The first steps of Mas’s reset will be deliberately cautious. He is likely to begin his season at the Challenge Mallorca team time trial, but the bigger aim is to rebuild toward his best level rather than peak too early. “It is a long process, not just to get there, but to get back to my best level. We are going step by step,” he concluded.