We are not surprised when Mikel Landa He begins with: "The first thing is to feel good. I want to overcome any health problems." The Spanish ace is known for his falls and even for some lapses at key moments in his major events. But he remains a top contender.
We had yet another proof of this this year with the fall at Line of Business, precisely, and the sudden problems encountered at the Vuelta. Against this, it is right to remember, enormous potential. Uphill, the best Landa is in fact not so far from the pogacar or Bernal.
The 32 year old of the Bahrain-Victorious He has fairly clear goals for next season, at least in his head, and once again these will involve stage races, the ones he feels most suited to.
Idea Tour, but the Giro…
After such a successful season and having proven extremely competitive in the classics, Bahrain must carefully calibrate its schedule. During these Spanish days – they are at the Altea training camp – the sporting directors have their hands full placing all the captains: Jack Haig, sonny colbrelli, Mathej Mohoric, Damiano Caruso and of course Mikel Landa, without forgetting bilbao hair e Gino Mader which grew a lot last year.
Since not everyone has such a defined program, Landa's remains unclear, or at least not entirely decided. He says his main goal is the Grande Boucle, but how? As a leader? As a stage chaser? Or simply as a domestique?
«I would like to do the Tour de France – says Landa – I realize that the Giro d'Italia is very suited to my characteristics. The Giro d'Italia could be a really great opportunity. I saw that there are a lot of climbs and very few time trials. Maybe I could do both."
And the 2022 Giro route evokes mixed memories for Mikel. In 2017 before the blockhouse fell to the ground together with Thomas, but two years earlier he was king of Aprica.
Competition or help?
It is said, however, that Landa and, precisely because of a strongly increased internal competition, he may not have a support team all to himselfHe may not start out as a sole leader. But beware of interpreting this as a lack of confidence, given that he's extended his contract until 2023.
"Last year," Landa says, "I had a very difficult season due to the crash at the Giro, so my only goal is to be competitive at all times. I always need a bit of luck, but if I'm healthy, I can do my best."
Maybe the arrival of Luis Leon Sanchez, a very experienced rider and who in Astana still regret, it can help him a lot. Sanchez could be that trusted man that he has perhaps been missing up until now. Furthermore, the two raced together at Astana. Their connection shouldn't be a problem... as long as Luis Leon is partnered with Landa.
Usual and solid seriousness
Meanwhile Landa has resumed training with his usual routine reliabilityHe also worked on the time trial, but above all on himself, on his health. After finishing the season, admittedly not very well, the Spaniard focused on recovery, as he himself said. The goal? To definitively eliminate the after-effects that he'd carried with him throughout the season since the Giro (he also crashed on his return in San Sebastian).
He had the plate removed from his collarbone, but above all he went to a clinic in his Basque Country to address an apparent problem with his hand. In fact, Mikel has put on some supports, like prostheses, which seem to be able to help him even when driving. Because they "assist" the neuromusculoskeletal system: supports that perform stabilization, alignment, and correction tasks. We'll see if they work...
