Enric Mas needs to put Remco Evenepoel on 'back foot... sooner rather than later' - Adam Blythe

Enric Mas (Movistar) needs to put Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) on the «back foot… sooner rather than later» if he is to have any hope of carting off the red jersey at La Vuelta, according to Eurosport expert Adam Blythe. Mas was bumped into second in the general classification following the unfortunate exit of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma). Roglic abandoned ahead of Stage 17 after sustaining big injuries in a bizarre crash on Tuesday.

Ad With Roglic gone, Evenepoel is the overwhelming favourite to leave Madrid draped in red on Sunday. Mas is 2'01" adrift with just four stages remaining, having seen his attacks snuffed out by the Belgian on Wednesday. Vuelta a EspañaUran wins from break as Evenepoel swats away Mas attacks on Stage 174 HOURS AGO Still, all hope is not lost for the Spaniard.

Three mountain tests await the peloton before Sunday's roll-around the Spanish capital — including Thursday's run to Piornal which features two Cat. 1 climbs and a summit finish — with Blythe urging Mas to attack at the first opportunity. Trek-Segafredo win team time trial in Madrid Challenge opener Evenepoel saved by 'bizarre' rule after late puncture – but was that right? «I think this is one of the hardest days they have had in the last five or six days in terms of the amount of climbing they’ve got to do, and they’ve got another hard day on the back of this as well [Stage 19, Friday], and an even harder day off the back of that [Stage 20, Saturday], so this is the start of a big three days for these riders,» said Adam Blythe about Stage 18 on The Breakaway.