Enric Mas targets Giro d’Italia podium on return from injury setbacks

Based on his results, Enric Mas has long been considered a GC contender to watch, with six top 10 finishes in the Vuelta a España, including four podiums, and two top 10 results in the Tour de France. But the past months have put that status under pressure. A thrombophlebitis diagnosis, followed by a serious right hand injury, forced him into an extended break that lasted far longer than expected.

“Good, strange,” Mas said when asked about his condition by MARCA. “We tried racing in Terres because my wrist is still quite painful and the wound hasn’t fully healed. I hope it won’t bother me too much this week [Volta a Catalunta] and that I can help the team as much as possible.”

The hand injury in particular left a mark. “When I saw my hand, I already knew it would take a long time. These are things we do every day. You get confident, and until something happens, you don’t see the danger.”

The time away from competition has also required a mental reset. “You just keep going, there’s no other option. I haven’t competed since July, it’s been a very long period, but it’s true that I’ve gone through a side of the sport that I had rarely experienced. You learn from everything.”

Mas will not chase immediate results in Catalunya. His role may even shift depending on team dynamics. “We arrive with uncertainty. Cian is coming in very strong, so I’ll probably have to work for him. Mine is a big unknown.”

What is certain is his shift in focus for 2026. For the first time in his career, Mas is building his season around the Giro d’Italia instead of the Tour de France. “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a new race, a different calendar. Doing something different after so many years is important.”

The decision came naturally after last summer. “When I withdrew from the Tour, I already knew I was going to propose riding the Giro. The team accepted it from the very beginning.”

In Italy, he expects a clear hierarchy at the top. “I don’t think Vingegaard will focus much on Almeida. He just does his own race, and we are the ones who have to watch him.”

The 31-year-old Spaniard does not hide his own ambitions for the race. “Honestly, I’d like to be on the podium.” To achieve that, he will head to an altitude camp with most of the Giro squad as he looks to reach peak condition.

External pressure is not part of his equation. “What really matters to me is what my family and friends say, and of course the team. I don’t pay attention to everything that’s said.”