Red Bull admits Enric Mas is 'hard to beat' after Roglic slips to third at Vuelta

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe Sports Director Patxi Vila has admitted that Enric Mas (Movistar) is proving difficult to match after Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) conceded 25 seconds to the Vuelta leader on stage 14’s summit finish atop La Pandera. 

“This isn't what we had hoped for,” Vila told L’Equipe after the four-time champion Roglič found himself distanced by Mas and Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) in the closing kilometres.

With the 25 seconds conceded in the finale, Roglič slipped to third, below Gall in the GC, and now sits 2:10 behind Mas with one stage remaining in the second week.

Vila believes that Roglič’s current deficit in the overall standings doesn’t reflect negatively on the Slovenian, but rather shines a bright light on the current level of Mas. 

“Primož feels good, but Mas is better than him on the climbs. We have to accept that he is hard to beat. He is more evenly matched with Felix [Gall], but Mas is displaying a remarkably consistent level of performance,” said Vila.

“So far, it has proven impossible to compete with Mas, but it’s not over until it’s over. There is still a long way to go, but he is very strong and hard to beat.”

Roglič’s best opportunity to turn the tide could come next Thursday when the Vuelta reaches its second time trial of the race on stage 18. 

At 32km in length, the stage presents an opportunity for Roglič to take time on Mas and Gall, given that the former Olympic champion in the discipline has a considerably stronger pedigree than the duo in the race against the clock.

“The time trial is very important for the team. We’ve worked hard on it and improved a lot, so we hope to perform well there too.”

The final stage before the second rest day has been shortened due to the heat, and on paper looks suited to a breakaway, though that doesn't mean that Roglič and the rest of the GC contenders won't take their eyes off the ball.