Enric Mas and Richard Carapaz were reliant on each other during the third week of the Vuelta a España. Together, they needed to overtake Ben O’Connor, who lost his red jersey to Primoz Roglic but did not yield to the attacks from Mas and Carapaz. As a result, O’Connor ended up as the runner-up in the final standings and stood on the podium in Madrid. Mas finished in third place, while Carapaz ended up fourth.
The two Spanish climbers appeared to be allies in the second and third weeks, but their partnership soon became contentious. “It’s true that we would have liked to give O’Connor a bit more time, but unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. We didn’t understand each other. I thought Richard would cooperate more, but I couldn’t get too enthusiastic since Richard was not too far behind me,” said Mas after the penultimate stage.
In the time trial, the Movistar rider hoped to surpass O’Connor, but the Australian proved to be about half a minute faster. “We have to be satisfied with third place,” Mas lamented afterward. “I think this was my worst day of the Vuelta; I couldn’t find the good feeling. I aimed for the overall victory, but I end up on the third step of the podium. It was a tough race where I couldn’t find what I was looking for. I felt I was close, but now I’m looking forward to the World Championships and the Italian autumn.”
Carapaz misses Vuelta podium, but is very happy
Contrasting sharply with Mas’s frustration, Carapaz was extremely satisfied on Sunday. Despite missing the podium, the Ecuadorian, who won the Giro d’Italia in 2019, finished second in the Vuelta in 2020, third in the Tour de France in 2021, and second in the Vuelta again in 2022, was pleased with his performance. “This Vuelta has helped me rediscover myself, working together with the team as a leader,” Carapaz shared via EF Education-EasyPost’s official channels.
“It was incredible; my teammates have been there for me from the start in Portugal,” he continued. “They worked so hard, and I’m very grateful for that. This is a solid result for me. We showed character, and that made the difference. I’m experiencing a lot of emotions right now. I look forward to my next goals, knowing that this team will support me in the grand tours.”
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