Mikel Landa Discussion Thread

[Ataraxus]

Re:

Can't wait to see Aru giing Landa a great lead out on the next couple of stages

I wouldn't like that. Martinelli said that they would operate with two race leaders.
I want Aru to attack like mad. If Contador doesn't follow good for him. If Contador follows good for Landa. (on paper)

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Can't wait to see Aru giing Landa a great lead out on the next couple of stages

I wouldn't like that. Martinelli said that they would operate with two race leaders.
I want Aru to attack like mad. If Contador doesn't follow good for him. If Contador follows good for Landa. (on paper)

The thing is, if Aru is as weak as he was on previous stages, Contador doesn't have to follow Aru. He won't get anywhere. If Aru gets like a minute gap Contador can accelerate and bring him back.

 

[staubsauger]

The thing is you can make up 2-3 minutes at best on Finestre. But 4? No way, unless the opponent cracks completely. Landa has to produce huge back to back efforts to gain 1-2 minutes before already. That's why he absolutely should've gone alone on Mortirolo when Contador was in a critical situation.

Can't see him winning the Giro anymore. Even with Cervinia. In 1994 Pantani eventually couldn't beat Berzin in the end. How should Landa get 4 minutes!? It's a too huge task to ask for.

The chance was there. Not to gain fuchsia immediatly. But to close the gap enough, to take it finally after Finestre as the best climber in the race.

If he manages to still take it nevertheless, I would be madly impressed.

But no way, unless Contador fully blows apart. That never happened before. Not even when he was racing on his teeth ridge back in 2008.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

Can't see him winning the Giro anymore. Even with Cervinia. In 1994 Pantani eventually couldn't beat Berzin in the end. How should Landa get 4 minutes!? It's a too huge task to ask for.

Pantani was coming down with bronchitis for the last two mountain stages

I'm not sure Contador's lead is enough if Landa is allowed to go full genius the rest of the Giro

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

I agree that Landa is the strongest climber on current evidence, but you must be smoking something extremely potent if you actually imply that Porte or Uran close to their best could have been 4 minutes quicker than Vasil in that time trial. I mean, what? 1994 Berzin, sure.

I didnt say that. I thougth I didnt need to explain better.

Landa was better than a thought, so he losed less time.

IMO Uran and Porte at his best could have been put one minute to Contador, so more than 5 to Landa. (I thought could be 8, but I had my doubts becouse the ITT was hilly at the end, and Landa looked very strong)

We watched next day that they are not ok. Maybe Uran now is more recovered and he can try to get an stage, but it will be a fight between Astana and Contador, and there are people very strong as Hesjedal, Kruijwisk,...so very difficult.

That's really BS. Contador smashed that ITT like 2009 level, he would have beaten both Uran and Porte if they were at their best. I dont know with how much, but he was the by FAR the stronget guy that day. Kiriyenka who arguably are better than Uran and Porte in ITT only won by 14 seconds in a lot better wind conditions.

And some people here saying that Contador went full gas and Landa didn't? really? Of course Landa went full gas like Contador, he's just not a good TT rider.

I said that day Contador deserved that ITT, he was really strong, just the change wind avoid him to win the stage (for a little time).

But with the perspective that today, Porte and Uran are not in this Giro at his best, the crash afected his body, and Uran came from an ilness, so, it is diffucut to recover when is raining. the Rigo that could ITT well, is a Rigo that dont lose time in the mountains, at least he dont lose 10 minutes.

Rigo could have done 3 minutes better that ITT, and Porte of course better as well.

Kiriyenka, Van der Broeck, Luis Leon, Grebsch... are not a bad reference, but it should be better with Froome, Wiggo, Nibali, Tony Martin, without the problems of Uran and Porte, to evaluate how good that ITTwas for Contador.

Contador didnt put too much time on Aru, a climber that is not better than him on the mountains, or Kruiswijk, that is not an specialist to think that Uran and Porte couldnt beat that without his problems in this Giro.

To see Landa at the begining of the ITT help him as well, the same that the references were good.

Good for him.

An ITT at the second part of a race, after the mountains, long, with some climbs, show the strongest riders of the race... and Contador is one of the strongerst, and Uran and Porte no.

And I said 1 minute becouse Contador had a great day, other way I would say 2.

if you dont think the same is your respectable opinion

 

[Ataraxus]

Re: Re:

Can't see him winning the Giro anymore. Even with Cervinia. In 1994 Pantani eventually couldn't beat Berzin in the end. How should Landa get 4 minutes!? It's a too huge task to ask for.

Pantani was coming down with bronchitis for the last two mountain stages

I'm not sure Contador's lead is enough if Landa is allowed to go full genius the rest of the Giro

I don't think Landa can get 4 minutes by attacking and dropping Contador. Contador is no Wiggins in the mountains. Team tatics will have to come to play as well. And for the team tactics to be efficient against Contador the flat(ish) parts have to be exploited. IMO the remaining stages are not that suitable to deploy and exploit team tactics (compared to Aprica) but I wouldn't mind Astana trying. Au contraire

 

[Ataraxus]

Re: Re:

Can't wait to see Aru giing Landa a great lead out on the next couple of stages

I wouldn't like that. Martinelli said that they would operate with two race leaders.
I want Aru to attack like mad. If Contador doesn't follow good for him. If Contador follows good for Landa. (on paper)

The thing is, if Aru is as weak as he was on previous stages, Contador doesn't have to follow Aru. He won't get anywhere. If Aru gets like a minute gap Contador can accelerate and bring him back.

It depends on the racing situation but more ore less I think the same. Contador most probably won't follow Aru at first. The point is that if Contador makes an effort to catch Aru and Landa stays on his wheel, Landa will counterattack and probably gap Contador.

 

[oncehadhair]

Re: Re:

I'm looking forward to see mano a mano Contador vs Landa full gas in this Giro. It should be fun.

Already happened today. Contador can't keep up when Landa goes full gas, not even close. Landa on a completely different level. The why's and how's are a separate story altogether.

Yeah, I just rewatched the stage starting from Mortirolo climb. Landa never looked in pain. Hell, it looks like he was half-assing entire stage. When Contador attacked he just calmly went over to Aru, checked how he feels, and then just pressed on a pedals bit harder and without any effort joined the attack. And then unhitching Kruijswik (who was spent) and Contador (who tried to follow) on such a small gradients and winning with good advantage?

Absolutely insane.

It's really baffling how everyone forgets that Saxo had to motor full blast just to start the Motirolo 50 seconds DOWN on Landa and Aru. Yah. Imagine Landa had fresher legs by the time Contador attacked. And after sitting on for the last 30k.

Reality is that Landa can't keep up for 3 weeks or he would not be 4 minutes down.

If Landa could ride a tt he wouldn't be four minutes down. On straight time he'd be in pink.

On every other stage he's been doing a pretty good job of "keeping up". In fact better than Contador two stages ago.

 

[HelloDolly]

Twitter saying RAI says he has already signed for SKY ???

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

If Landa could ride a tt he wouldn't be four minutes down. On straight time he'd be in pink.

On every other stage he's been doing a pretty good job of "keeping up". In fact better than Contador two stages ago.

TTing is part of stage racing.
Lost 4 minutes in the TT? TOUGH LUCK. There is 60km of ITT in this race. If he cannot make up the time lost in those 60km, in the mountains, he's not the best allround rider in the race.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re:

Twitter saying RAI says he has already signed for SKY ???

Say it aint so

 

[DBotero]

Re: Mikel Landa

Martinelli about Landa ITT capabilities:“The time trial he did the País Vasco last year was perhaps the first one he did in his life when he was really pushing it. Hai capitio? Before, he was always going like it was a rest day.”

L'Equipe reported he will sign with Sky,i hope is true.

 

[HelloDolly]

Landa isn't the best all rounder in the Giro......Contador is by a mile....but so far Landa is the best climber IMO

 

[Taxus4a]

I dont believe he sign for SKY, but anyway I dont have any idea.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Mikel Landa

Martinelli about Landa ITT capabilities:“The time trial he did the País Vasco last year was perhaps the first one he did in his life when he was really pushing it. Hai capitio? Before, he was always going like it was a rest day.”

L'Equipe reported he will sign with Sky,i hope is true.

Good god. All it will take is entering a wind tunnel for the first time, lowering the handle bars, not wearing sandshoes and possibly a hitherto undiscovered track background and he'll be beating Tony Martin.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I dont believe he sign for SKY, but anyway I dont have any idea.

I thought you said you knew who he would sign for?

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

Landa isn't the best all rounder in the Giro......Contador is by a mile....but so far Landa is the best climber IMO

There is a lot of Giro still to come...So far, Contador is the best, at the end, we will see.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

I dont believe he sign for SKY, but anyway I dont have any idea.

I thought you said you knew who he would sign for?

if he is not going to go on in Astana, I know his preference, but I suppose he will have some offers and he will study all of them.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Can't see him winning the Giro anymore. Even with Cervinia. In 1994 Pantani eventually couldn't beat Berzin in the end. How should Landa get 4 minutes!? It's a too huge task to ask for.

Pantani was coming down with bronchitis for the last two mountain stages

I'm not sure Contador's lead is enough if Landa is allowed to go full genius the rest of the Giro

I don't think Landa can get 4 minutes by attacking and dropping Contador. Contador is no Wiggins in the mountains. Team tatics will have to come to play as well. And for the team tactics to be efficient against Contador the flat(ish) parts have to be exploited. IMO the remaining stages are not that suitable to deploy and exploit team tactics (compared to Aprica) but I wouldn't mind Astana trying. Au contraire

I saw how Landa dropped and put 38 seconds to Contador (helped for "Crispis") in 3 Km false flat, so I can see 4 minutes, there are stages for that.

Contador is strong and with experience, and also he has used too much his team this giro and they are very tired, he has strong riders for those stages and a good difference, so he should win the Giro.

But Contador dont like that anybody say anyone climb better than him in the Giro, so, he will try to show he can lose just a little, becouse Astana is stronger.

That is to admit there are riders stronger than him, and maybe he dont want, so that is dangerous for him.

Landa just need that Aru think more to win the Giro with Landa than to keep his podium place.
I know Landa and i think in this situation he will forget Martinelli.

Landa is an epic, and very intelligent rider and we will se that from now.

 

[Angliru]

Re: Re:

Can't see him winning the Giro anymore. Even with Cervinia. In 1994 Pantani eventually couldn't beat Berzin in the end. How should Landa get 4 minutes!? It's a too huge task to ask for.

Pantani was coming down with bronchitis for the last two mountain stages

I'm not sure Contador's lead is enough if Landa is allowed to go full genius the rest of the Giro

I don't think Contador is at the point in his career where he can lose a 4 minute lead unless it involves another mechanical or heaven forbid, an unfortunate incident that begins with the word "c". All he really has to do is follow Landa. Aru is too much of a threat to other riders potential podium positions for other teams to allow him to go on some epic journey without their teams responding.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Can't see him winning the Giro anymore. Even with Cervinia. In 1994 Pantani eventually couldn't beat Berzin in the end. How should Landa get 4 minutes!? It's a too huge task to ask for.

Pantani was coming down with bronchitis for the last two mountain stages

I'm not sure Contador's lead is enough if Landa is allowed to go full genius the rest of the Giro

I don't think Contador is at the point in his career where he can lose a 4 minute lead unless it involves another mechanical or heaven forbid, an unfortunate incident that begins with the word "c". All he really has to do is follow Landa. Aru is too much of a threat to other riders potential podium positions for other teams to allow him to go on some epic journey without their teams responding.

if he try follow Landa, he is out, not just 4 minutes, but 10.

I think he is proud, but not so studpid to try always follow Landa.

We saw yesterday in Aprica that is not easy to follow Landa.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Can't see him winning the Giro anymore. Even with Cervinia. In 1994 Pantani eventually couldn't beat Berzin in the end. How should Landa get 4 minutes!? It's a too huge task to ask for.

Pantani was coming down with bronchitis for the last two mountain stages

I'm not sure Contador's lead is enough if Landa is allowed to go full genius the rest of the Giro

I don't think Contador is at the point in his career where he can lose a 4 minute lead unless it involves another mechanical or heaven forbid, an unfortunate incident that begins with the word "c". All he really has to do is follow Landa. Aru is too much of a threat to other riders potential podium positions for other teams to allow him to go on some epic journey without their teams responding.

if he try follow Landa, he is out, not just 4 minutes, but 10.

I think he is proud, but not so studpid to try always follow Landa.

We saw yesterday in Aprica that is not easy to follow Landa.

Seriously? Lol.

 

[Taxus4a]

I will be dissapointed if Astana dont put his pace today in Olognom and allow Saxo to go at his way...

 

[Red Rick]

Where exactly is Landa supposed to take 4 minutes on Contador?

Scrap that, make it 5 minutes

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Can't see him winning the Giro anymore. Even with Cervinia. In 1994 Pantani eventually couldn't beat Berzin in the end. How should Landa get 4 minutes!? It's a too huge task to ask for.

Pantani was coming down with bronchitis for the last two mountain stages

I'm not sure Contador's lead is enough if Landa is allowed to go full genius the rest of the Giro

I don't think Contador is at the point in his career where he can lose a 4 minute lead unless it involves another mechanical or heaven forbid, an unfortunate incident that begins with the word "c". All he really has to do is follow Landa. Aru is too much of a threat to other riders potential podium positions for other teams to allow him to go on some epic journey without their teams responding.

if he try follow Landa, he is out, not just 4 minutes, but 10.

I think he is proud, but not so studpid to try always follow Landa.

We saw yesterday in Aprica that is not easy to follow Landa.

Your guy Landa is going really good, his climbing is maybe the best in this Giro, at least on par with Contador, till' now, but to say that Landa will make up 4, now 5 minutes, and above all to say that the all-time cycling and especially climbing great Alberto Contador Velasco will loose 10 minutes if he tries to follow Landa!!! Well... you my friend basically don't know what you're saying. On the contrary I think Contador would not loose a second any more in this Giro, might gain some..