Mikel Landa Discussion Thread

[Mr.White]

Aru is simply weaker than Landa, in Italy, in Spain, in France, doesn't matter

Edit: Oh and Vino said that he would like to see Aru in France with Nibali, so it seems that Landa could get his leadership

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

I love these inside intriges. Armstrong vs Contador, Froome vs Wiggins,... and now this. Too bad Landa didn't say **** you to team orders.

But he's a wonderful climber though.

Landa has panache, but to face Astana-tinkoff-Giro organicers... it is not so easy as you think.

And he want at least to race something more this year.

Landa is a very good person, so althoug he is not stupid for him this kind of BS must be hard. To win a Giro and to beat Conatdor is something not at the reach of everybody, and you have the legs, you have the perfect situation and you are not allowed...really hard.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

Like this guy, hope he finds the right team for him

I would like to see him in Orica, but maybe not the best team for GT... so Cannondale and BMC could be OK.

In SKY so many good people, and maybe not the best team for an inspired man like him...but they could work with him ITT a lot.

The problem with Cannondale-Garmin: Formolo, he looks a nice guy, but he look as good as Aru, and that could be a problem to race the Giro.

But Garmin is not so italian team as Astana is.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

“I would have liked to have won the stage but I was stopped by the team car because they had the idea that they could win the Giro [with Aru] and I had to follow orders,” said Landa.

Cruel

“Maybe we should have tried earlier,” Landa said. “But Alberto didn’t look too bad because he had responded to Kruijswijk and Hesjedal’s attacks and that intimidated us a bit. That’s his strength. He knew how to control things and he succeeded completely.”

“My next objective is the Vuelta a España, but I’m happy with my Giro,” Landa said. “It’s a big turning point in my career and I’ll look on things from a different perspective now.”

Seems like him doing the Vuelta is a done deal. Surely he wouldn't want to slave for Aru, so I guess this means Aru really is going to do the Tour?

Aru should go to the Vuelta to help Landa and lick his feet every morning, other way next time I see Aru he will like mines.

 

[jmdirt]

Maybe Landa will lead Alonso's team! Sorry, bad joke. If he's not happy with Astana and decides to leave, who will pay the big money, but also be a good team for him? TREK?

 

[nepetalactone]

Maybe he'll take take the Basque reigns from Samu at BMC. And then pick up the slack when TVG stumbles as he's used to doing that by now.

 

[Metabolol]

Landa definitely deserves to ride the Vuelta as a team leader. Aru stole his glory on the last couple of stages (per team orders).

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Landa could have won the Giro today, if the team had let him go all out for it.... what terrible team management.

They should have let him go 5K earlier and force Contador to close on him a few times - it could have broken Contador and gotten him the jersey.... heck, though unlikely it was enough for the Giro win, when he was out in front today, they should have let him go full gas, as it might have broken Contadors spirit.

The Astana team management should be beating up themselves tonight, their non stop attacks all Giro isolating Contadors in the mountains, finally could have paid off today, but they screwed the pooch.... all because they wanted an italian in 2nd.

 

[Metabolol]

Re:

Landa could have won the Giro today, if the team had let him go all out for it.... what terrible team management.

They should have let him go 5K earlier and force Contador to close on him a few times - it could have broken Contador and gotten him the jersey.... heck, though unlikely it was enough for the Giro win, when he was out in front today, they should have let him go full gas, as it might have broken Contadors spirit.

The Astana team management should be beating up themselves tonight, their non stop attacks all Giro isolating Contadors in the mountains, finally could have paid off today, but they screwed the pooch.... all because they wanted an italian in 2nd.

Yes, Astana had a lot of success (2nd and 3rd in GC with several stage wins) but if they had been smarter/wanted to it's possible that Landa could have won the Giro today. I think Landa showed a little bit of inexperience too.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Landa could have won the Giro today, if the team had let him go all out for it.... what terrible team management.

They should have let him go 5K earlier and force Contador to close on him a few times - it could have broken Contador and gotten him the jersey.... heck, though unlikely it was enough for the Giro win, when he was out in front today, they should have let him go full gas, as it might have broken Contadors spirit.

The Astana team management should be beating up themselves tonight, their non stop attacks all Giro isolating Contadors in the mountains, finally could have paid off today, but they screwed the pooch.... all because they wanted an italian in 2nd.

Yes, Astana had a lot of success (2nd and 3rd in GC with several stage wins) but if they had been smarter/wanted to it's possible that Landa could have won the Giro today. I think Landa showed a little bit of inexperience too.

Today difficult, but after Mortirolo stage yes, and from the begining for sure.., but they didnt want to win with Landa, no way,it sound crazy, but if Landa goes to the team they dont want to win as they have Aru.

if you want to win, all the thay attackss, no put pace...

 

[Metabolol]

Re: Re:

Landa could have won the Giro today, if the team had let him go all out for it.... what terrible team management.

They should have let him go 5K earlier and force Contador to close on him a few times - it could have broken Contador and gotten him the jersey.... heck, though unlikely it was enough for the Giro win, when he was out in front today, they should have let him go full gas, as it might have broken Contadors spirit.

The Astana team management should be beating up themselves tonight, their non stop attacks all Giro isolating Contadors in the mountains, finally could have paid off today, but they screwed the pooch.... all because they wanted an italian in 2nd.

Yes, Astana had a lot of success (2nd and 3rd in GC with several stage wins) but if they had been smarter/wanted to it's possible that Landa could have won the Giro today. I think Landa showed a little bit of inexperience too.

Today difficult, but after Mortirolo stage yes, and from the begining for sure.., but they didnt want to win with Landa, no way,it sound crazy, but if Landa go they dont want to win as they have Aru.

if you want to win, all the thay attackss, no put pace...

Maybe, but if they had ridden for Landa from the beginning it could also have been worse. It's hard to predict what would have happened. On the Mortirolo Landa should have attacked but I'm not sure he could have created a much bigger time gap on that stage (compared to 38 sec). I think his biggest chance was today and yesterday.

Landa was strong but to me it looked like he faded a bit at the end of Finestre (I think even before Contador was dropped by Hesjedal etc).

My impression of Landa is that he can really attack hard and go fast for 3-4km but after that he fades a bit so maybe even if he had attacked earlier I'm not sure he could have beaten Contador. Maybe he knows it and that's why he didn't attack earlier. But if he improves his TTing he can win a Grand Tour (and if he can handle the pressure of being a team leader).

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Landa could have won the Giro today, if the team had let him go all out for it.... what terrible team management.



Maybe, but if they had ridden for Landa from the beginning it could also have been worse. It's hard to predict what would have happened. On the Mortirolo Landa should have attacked but I'm not sure he could have created a much bigger time gap on that stage (compared to 38 sec). I think his biggest chance was today and yesterday.

Landa was strong but to me it looked like he faded a bit at the end of Finestre (I think even before Contador was dropped by Hesjedal etc).

My impression of Landa is that he can really attack hard and go fast for 3-4km but after that he fades a bit so maybe even if he had attacked earlier I'm not sure he could have beaten Contador. Maybe he knows it and that's why he didn't attack earlier. But if he improves his TTing he can win a Grand Tour (and if he can handle the pressure of being a team leader).

Landa is not good in the flat.. if he could put those 38 seconds is becouse he just was allowed to win the stage, he cant attack before, and if he can put those 38 seconds in a false flat, is becpouse he did Mortiloro very easy, while contador got much more tired, although they were the same time pulling... Yes, Contador had to catch, but not too much time, for Mortirolo 50 sec is no time. Yes contador give 2 small pulls to krispis, but both things together is not escuse that Contador cant hold an attack in the false flat, that is easy for him, he has bif aceleration, and later he even was at krispis' wheel, so could have been more if contador was alone.

For me that shows Landa was stronger and for Contador acording his acts next days the same. And today is the proof, yesterday, wanst a climb to drop Contador with 30 riders there...

I think that Landa could have put more than 1 minute in Aprica if he attack in Mortirolo, how much, I dont know, maybe much more...

5 minutes were sure for Landa with Contador in the ITT, with Porte and Rigo at his best would have been more, Landa maybe can improve in ITT but so far he was always bad.

But to put 4 minutes on contador,, he even didnt need so strong team for that, but with this time, for sure.

But cycling is like that, Aru is italian, he has contract, Landa was more to leave, this is the Giro, in Astana Martinelli and Vino are Contador friends, even Tiralongo, Aru is his fan... so, Landa was an strange there, no way to ride for him better than Aru if Aru is ok...

Of course Landa take advantage of that bif team, and to be without pressure, but he can handle the pressure. if you are the best climber and you have the best team, you win the Giro even if you lose 10 minutes

 

[jmdirt]

Re:

Landa could have won the Giro today, if the team had let him go all out for it.... what terrible team management.

They should have let him go 5K earlier and force Contador to close on him a few times - it could have broken Contador and gotten him the jersey.... heck, though unlikely it was enough for the Giro win, when he was out in front today, they should have let him go full gas, as it might have broken Contadors spirit.

The Astana team management should be beating up themselves tonight, their non stop attacks all Giro isolating Contadors in the mountains, finally could have paid off today, but they screwed the pooch.... all because they wanted an italian in 2nd.

No way he wins the Giro today.

If you are 2nd and 3rd at an Italian race, its best to have the Italian 2nd. At the Vuelta, I would expect the Basque to get the "leaders nod".

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Landa could have won the Giro today, if the team had let him go all out for it.... what terrible team management.

They should have let him go 5K earlier and force Contador to close on him a few times - it could have broken Contador and gotten him the jersey.... heck, though unlikely it was enough for the Giro win, when he was out in front today, they should have let him go full gas, as it might have broken Contadors spirit.

The Astana team management should be beating up themselves tonight, their non stop attacks all Giro isolating Contadors in the mountains, finally could have paid off today, but they screwed the pooch.... all because they wanted an italian in 2nd.

No way he wins the Giro today.

If you are 2nd and 3rd at an Italian race, its best to have the Italian 2nd. At the Vuelta, I would expect the Basque to get the "leaders nod".

I hope so, but...If Landa dont sign with Astana maybe not.

Anyway here is not the same...I could punnture Vino s car wheels, as minimum.

Vuelta has not the best stages for Landa, but this year with the andorra stage and Asturias it is ok.

The ITT of Burgos Landa know very well, he trained there for 3 years when he studied in Burgos. it is not an ITT for him.. it is depends on the wind, but at least there are some little climbs. 4 minutes with froome shoud be normal, but in an ITT at the end, who knows... After that, stages for tactics, hards, to lose a lot if you have a bad day, but not really mountain.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Perhaps the reason Vino wants Aru in the tour is so that LAnda can be the captain in the Vuelta, and secure an extension of his contract at the same time?

 

[Mozart92]

Re:

Perhaps the reason Vino wants Aru in the tour is so that LAnda can be the captain in the Vuelta, and secure an extension of his contract at the same time?

Aru said that he was going to recover and then prepare the Vuelta. This year he can win and besides Nibali is Astana's man for the Tour.

 

[Metabolol]

Well, then Landa should ride for another team. Because he should ride as a team leader at the Vuelta. It would be a crime to hold him back.

 

[No_Balls]

Re:

Landa could have won the Giro today, if the team had let him go all out for it.... what terrible team management.

They should have let him go 5K earlier and force Contador to close on him a few times - it could have broken Contador and gotten him the jersey.... heck, though unlikely it was enough for the Giro win, when he was out in front today, they should have let him go full gas, as it might have broken Contadors spirit.

The Astana team management should be beating up themselves tonight, their non stop attacks all Giro isolating Contadors in the mountains, finally could have paid off today, but they screwed the pooch.... all because they wanted an italian in 2nd.

I dont think Landa was in a position to win yesterday, after all it is a bit of a risk to attack even further away even for a guy like Landa, and at that point Landa himself said that AC looked good why he hesitated. But had he'd been given even free reigns earlier: well, that is Astanas own cross to carry.

But then again it wasnt meant for Landa to win this and it couldnt get any clearer when they told him to wait. Landa in his comments here: well, its pretty much a F U to the management.

 

[Asero831]

Keep Landa at a cheaper price and let go of Aru

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

Perhaps the reason Vino wants Aru in the tour is so that LAnda can be the captain in the Vuelta, and secure an extension of his contract at the same time?

Aru said that he was going to recover and then prepare the Vuelta. This year he can win and besides Nibali is Astana's man for the Tour.

when vino wants something, vino gets . Too bad if Aru goes to the Tour. He can't stand against the fresh Froome, Quintana and his teammate Nibali. If he goes to Vuelta, he has a great chance to win it. Quintana, Valverde and Purito has Tour leg. He will be fresh.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

Perhaps the reason Vino wants Aru in the tour is so that LAnda can be the captain in the Vuelta, and secure an extension of his contract at the same time?

Aru said that he was going to recover and then prepare the Vuelta. This year he can win and besides Nibali is Astana's man for the Tour.

when vino wants something, vino gets . Too bad if Aru goes to the Tour. He can't stand against the fresh Froome, Quintana and his teammate Nibali. If he goes to Vuelta, he has a great chance to win it. Quintana, Valverde and Purito has Tour leg. He will be fresh and so does Landa.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re:

Keep Landa at a cheaper price and let go of Aru

If Landa stay in one team or in another it is not a question of money, he is happy to go to swiming to the lake near Vitoria with friends and to go to cheap places, doing the same life that now, you dont need to be millonaire as Contador or Sagan to do that. Of course money always counts, but It would be sportive reasons, althoug Astana has very good professionals around and is a good team and he is ok there, but of course I wouldnt be very happy after this Giro...and I wouldnt be very happy in a team with those problems in the continental and with 2 riders, Landa didnt see anything strange on the team, but he is very commited with that and that would be an important thing if he chose another team...

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Perhaps the reason Vino wants Aru in the tour is so that LAnda can be the captain in the Vuelta, and secure an extension of his contract at the same time?

Aru said that he was going to recover and then prepare the Vuelta. This year he can win and besides Nibali is Astana's man for the Tour.

When vino wants something, vino gets . Too bad if Aru goes to the Tour. He can't stand against the fresh Froome, Quintana and his teammate Nibali. If he goes to Vuelta, he has a great chance to win it. Quintana, Valverde and Purito has Tour leg. He will be fresh.

Froome can win anyway, and the rest as well, Valverde was really strong after to be 4th in Le Tour, and he won San Sebastian... 2 GT in a row are not a big problem if there is one month, for Froome would be not his first attemp Tour-Vuelta, first time is always a handicap.


if Aru go to the Tour is to help and learn, no more.

 

[staubsauger]

Aru is the only one level A rider with 100% freshness at the Vuelta. If he hits his best shape he's number one favorite imho!

Also the steep Vuelta walls seem to favor him a little more at this point of his career!

 

[Ataraxus]

Re:

Aru is the only one level A rider with 100% freshness at the Vuelta. If he hits his best shape he's number one favorite imho!

Also the steep Vuelta walls seem to favor him a little more at this point of his career!

That may be a valid statement assuming all the top guns at the tour finish the race and do not target the Vuelta.