Enric Mas promises war today in the decisive mountain stage of La Vuelta in the Sierra de la Pandera: “I have attacked in 4 of the 5 high finishes”
Change of decoration in The Return. After yesterday’s stage in which the candidates to occupy the final podium of the race on September 13 in Grenade If they stepped aside and gave the spotlight to other riders, today the fans will enjoy a day of fireworks, in which the strong men of the general classification would have to be seen.
All of them must raise their hands, in a short and explosive stage, of 155 kilometers, starting in Jaén and ending in the Sierra de la Pandera, which at 1,872 meters is the highest point in the region Sierra Sur de Jaén.
A stage with three climbs in the final 60 kilometers, whose difficulty goes from less to more, with the first contact with the Puerto de los Villares (2nd, 11 km at 5.4% average)followed by Puerto de Locubin (2nd, 9 km at 5.1%) and the end in the Sierra de la Pandera (1st category, 12 km climb at 7.2%). A new important mountain stage, in which the heat can add harshness to an already difficult route. If any favorite has a bad day, they can say goodbye to their overall options on the ramps of the Sierra de la Pandera.
I will have to defend the advantage I have, it will be difficult, but it is a good day tomorrow to get more time
An outcome known to the cyclists and several of the members of the illustrious peloton in La Vuelta, such as Richard Carapaz, Primoz Roglic or Enric Mas. The Spaniard, leader of the race, remembered yesterday the last time La Vuelta reached this colossus. “It was in 20222 and Richard Carapaz won. It was a hard day and there were moments when I had a bad time. Roglic attacked from below, I tried to close him down and that’s where I stayed. I will have to defend the advantage I have, it will be difficult, but tomorrow is a good day to get more time. In 5 high finishes I have gotten time in 4. In La Pandera, calm down and get time,” said the Movistar rider.
In 2022 Carapaz was imposed on Miguel Angel Lopez for eight seconds, identical time on Roglic and with Mas in fifth position entering at 36 seconds; in an edition of the Spanish round that would end up being for the Belgian Remco Evenepoel, who, curiously, faced this day with 2’41” over Primoz Roglicthe Slovenian reducing the difference in Sierra de la Pandera to 1’49”; almost the time he has lost this year compared to Enric Mas. The swords, in all the heights.
