Issue is he has been given the chance plenty of times and something always happens. He's like Kloden in my opinion, has the talent just none of the luck or ability when given the spot light.
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Landa is so good you are having discussions about him when he is not relevant to current racing 
)))))
)))))
Landa is so good you are having discussions about him when he is not relevant to current racing
But he could have won it!
To be fair, nothing's wrong with keeping hope for a flawed hero in this dawn of super riders era.
Without crashes, mechanicals or illness, I think he would have won the Giro this year (or more accurately, he would have fought closely with Bernal for the win).
I don't think this Vuelta is any reason to write him off. Just like with Bernal.
I don't think this Vuelta is any reason to write him off. Just like with Bernal.
Tbh with the stunt he pulled yesterday I don't know about his mental state.
Genuine question: on what basis?
He was 77th in the prologue and ST as Bernal, Vlasov, Carthy and Ciccone in the only hilly stage he rode. We had yet to hit any significant mountain.
This is a rider who hasn't won a meaningful mountain stage in 3 years. What should lead me to believe he would have been able to drop Bernal or even Simon Yates during this year's Giro? I don't get it. It looks like blind faith to me.
Bahrain. Entire team flying like maniacs I can see why a lot of them believe Landa would be flying too.
IMO he'd be like the 2020 Tour. Strong but not mythical, and snatching defeat from the jaws of the podium.
Tirreno-Adriatico podium behind Pog and WVA and ahead of Bernal and inconsistent Simon Yates.
Landa would have beaten Yates who was getting dropped fairly often especially in the wet. I think a Bahrain rider would have won the Giro if Landa was there, not specifying who.
I guess the problem for Landismo is he is now at that Purito/Quintana/Pozzovivo level of being a pure climber who can't outclimb the more complete gc riders.
Looking back, it seems like the move to Movistar initiated that.
In 2015 we found a jewel of a mythical climber who was maybe the best in the world, on Contador's and Quintana's level. But who needed to improve his TT. Then he joined Sky and the TT improved, and he had the capability to win a GT. But his grand tours there were ruined by illness, crashes or having to play teammate.
Since the Movistar move he never quite hit the same level. 2019 Giro he found it on the Lagu Serru stage, but he was already down because of a crash, and the next day Carapaz took the Maglia with a great attack and game over for Landa.
Looking back, it seems like the move to Movistar initiated that.
In 2015 we found a jewel of a mythical climber who was maybe the best in the world, on Contador's and Quintana's level. But who needed to improve his TT. Then he joined Sky and the TT improved, and he had the capability to win a GT. But his grand tours there were ruined by illness, crashes or having to play teammate.
Since the Movistar move he never quite hit the same level. 2019 Giro he found it on the Lagu Serru stage, but he was already down because of a crash, and the next day Carapaz took the Maglia with a great attack and game over for Landa.
Blind faith mostly (as you say, there's not much else to base it on).
He had a good prep and the whole team was flying. From what I recall, he and Bernal made the best impression on stage 4.
It was Landa who attacked first in stage 4 in the climb. Bernal and the other followed him. He looked aggressive.
Actually Landa is one of the most consistent GC riders. He is always there in the mountains, usually attacking or in the front group. He is simply a bad time-trialist and crashes a lot, which is hardly ever his fault (however he probably does not have enough abilities to make saves like Bernal or Nibali).
Another thing is that he is a pure GT specialist and rarely looks good in one week races with top competition (with exceptions of 2018 Basque Country) a bit like late Nibali and Carapaz. It probably makes him look less consistent as we don't have too much opportunities to see him at his best. Landa always looked good at the Tour after doing the Giro, whether he was riding for GC or not, so it's safe to say recovery is his big advantage.
On the side note. Any Vuelta without multi mountain stage in Andorra or Pyrenees should not be considered a Grand Tour. I can't look at Asturian stages with 40km of flats and descents between not even particulary long climbs. I mean it's easier for a climber to initiate action on Muro di Sormano in Lombardia than on Vuelta routes last 2 years.
Another thing is that he is a pure GT specialist and rarely looks good in one week races with top competition (with exceptions of 2018 Basque Country) a bit like late Nibali and Carapaz. It probably makes him look less consistent as we don't have too much opportunities to see him at his best. Landa always looked good at the Tour after doing the Giro, whether he was riding for GC or not, so it's safe to say recovery is his big advantage.
On the side note. Any Vuelta without multi mountain stage in Andorra or Pyrenees should not be considered a Grand Tour. I can't look at Asturian stages with 40km of flats and descents between not even particulary long climbs. I mean it's easier for a climber to initiate action on Muro di Sormano in Lombardia than on Vuelta routes last 2 years.
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Keep him as a talisman for the rest of the team.
Yeah send him to every GT as a sole captain. ROI is through the roof with this strategy.
Britney is free now.
Maybe Landa will be next.
Maybe Landa will be next.
This is a Giro for Landismo. Ha can't waste this chance, can he?
Whoever takes over when Landa crashes out.
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