Mikel Landa Discussion Thread

[Nirvana]

Re: Re:

How is Landa calender looking like this season?

Andalucia
Paris-Nice
Pais Vasco
Suisse or Dauphine
Tour
San Seb
Burgos?
Vuelta
Worlds
Lombardia

You have confirmation for Paris-Nice?

He'll ride Tirreno.

 

[WheelofGear]

I doubt Landa is in shape right now. Don't expect him to win Andalucia. I don't even think he will reach a top 10.

"I think I should be in good condition in Tirreno already, but my main goal is reaching my best form in País Vasco and the Ardennes."

 

[Salvarani]

Re:

I doubt Landa is in shape right now. Don't expect him to win Andalucia. I don't even think he will reach a top 10.

"I think I should be in good condition in Tirreno already, but my main goal is reaching my best form in País Vasco and the Ardennes."

Even if his shape is not 100%, it is not like he is starting from scratch. He been a cyclist for years and pretty sure he had a pre-season to train hard. What I mean is Im sure even when he hasnt raced for awhile he still has a solid base-level to stand on. Maybe we shouldnt expect fireworks but Im pretty sure he will be up there in the GC.

Not reaching a top 10 would be wild lol

 

[Koronin]

Not really sure how he expects to be targeting classics races when the best hilly classics rider in the peloton happens to his team leader.

 

[Netserk]

Landani will attack like Vino

 

[repre]

Re:

Not really sure how he expects to be targeting classics races when the best hilly classics rider in the peloton happens to his team leader.

well, Landani doesn't care much about the leaders.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Not really sure how he expects to be targeting classics races when the best hilly classics rider in the peloton happens to his team leader.

well, Landani doesn't care much about the leaders.

True, although he apparently did say wanting to go to the Ardennes to learn from the master. Of course he should also know he can't beat Valverde is a sprint. Esp since we've all learned that the injury didn't hurt Valverde's sprinting ability.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Landa could be an excellent number 2 on Movistar in the Ardennes, they have missed such a rider since forever honestly. Still, Valverde hasn't really needed it, but it could take some pressure off of him in a selective Liege where I could imagine Landa being one of the absolute best. The role they envisioned for Moreno when he joined the team and hoped Betancur could take.

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

Not really sure how he expects to be targeting classics races when the best hilly classics rider in the peloton happens to his team leader.

well, Landani doesn't care much about the leaders.

True, although he apparently did say wanting to go to the Ardennes to learn from the master. Of course he should also know he can't beat Valverde is a sprint. Esp since we've all learned that the injury didn't hurt Valverde's sprinting ability.

He won't be riding against Valverde, he'll ride with him and for him. He can be very usefull, for example to put the pressure off Valverde late in the race by attacking, or to rip the field on RaF or St.Nicholas, or to pull on the front. In the process he will learn thing or two about these races, so he could be a serious contender in future years.
As for sprinting against Valverde, or riding against him generally, I don't think he would be that dumb. Valverde is Movistar, and if you're against him you're doomed in that team. I'm not saying he couldn't end up winning, but the only scenario is that Valverde allows his attack and others can't reach him. Anything else would be really foolish by Landa.

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

Not really sure how he expects to be targeting classics races when the best hilly classics rider in the peloton happens to his team leader.

well, Landani doesn't care much about the leaders.

True, although he apparently did say wanting to go to the Ardennes to learn from the master. Of course he should also know he can't beat Valverde is a sprint. Esp since we've all learned that the injury didn't hurt Valverde's sprinting ability.

He won't be riding against Valverde, he'll ride with him and for him. He can be very usefull, for example to put the pressure off Valverde late in the race by attacking, or to rip the field on RaF or St.Nicholas, or to pull on the front. In the process he will learn thing or two about these races, so he could be a serious contender in future years.
As for sprinting against Valverde, or riding against him generally, I don't think he would be that dumb. Valverde is Movistar, and if you're against him you're doomed in that team. I'm not saying he couldn't end up winning, but the only scenario is that Valverde allows his attack and others can't reach him. Anything else would be really foolish by Landa.

but foolish is the middle name of landa

 

[Koronin]

Valv.Piti, agreed that they really could use that good #2 in the Ardennes to take a bit of the pressure off Valverde. The last time they had that was before Valverde's ban when Purito was there. If Landa can do that properly he would be an asset there.

Blanco, except that Landa does do stupid stuff at times. However, I do think to a point you're correct that he knows very well Valverde runs that team. I do think there will be a different dynamic between Landa and Valverde vs Landa and Quintana. If he's serious about wanting to learn, going to the Ardennes with Valverde is the best thing he can do as he can learn a lot.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Valv.Piti, agreed that they really could use that good #2 in the Ardennes to take a bit of the pressure off Valverde. The last time they had that was before Valverde's ban when Purito was there. If Landa can do that properly he would be an asset there.

Blanco, except that Landa does do stupid stuff at times. However, I do think to a point you're correct that he knows very well Valverde runs that team. I do think there will be a different dynamic between Landa and Valverde vs Landa and Quintana. If he's serious about wanting to learn, going to the Ardennes with Valverde is the best thing he can do as he can learn a lot.

It is already evident. Landa and Valverde are often praising each other, while I didn't noticed that between Landa and Quintana.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Valv.Piti, agreed that they really could use that good #2 in the Ardennes to take a bit of the pressure off Valverde. The last time they had that was before Valverde's ban when Purito was there. If Landa can do that properly he would be an asset there.

Blanco, except that Landa does do stupid stuff at times. However, I do think to a point you're correct that he knows very well Valverde runs that team. I do think there will be a different dynamic between Landa and Valverde vs Landa and Quintana. If he's serious about wanting to learn, going to the Ardennes with Valverde is the best thing he can do as he can learn a lot.

It is already evident. Landa and Valverde are often praising each other, while I didn't noticed that between Landa and Quintana.

True, and we haven't seen this with Landa anywhere before. In the rest of that interview with Landa he talked about training in Mallorca and esp with Valverde and then how happy he was that Valverde won at Valencia. So yeah, with the way he's talking it is possible that Valverde may be the one rider whom he's willing to actually work for. Wouldn't be surprised if Valverde and Contador are to a point heroes of his as he would have watched them growing up, so that also may lead to his very different attitude and willing to defer.

 

[KyoGrey]

Showing strength and style for July...and to Nairo.

 

[Blanco]

Grande Mikel! Impressive win. First in his new "colors", bodes well for the future.

 

[Blanco]

Landa suggested that his move from Sky to Movistar had given him "ganancias marginales" :lol: . Brilliant.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Landa suggested that his move from Sky to Movistar had given him "ganancias marginales" :lol: . Brilliant.

I love it. Although I'm not sure if he's joking or mocking Sky. Either way it's funny.

Great to see him get his first win of the season and first win for Movistar.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Landa suggested that his move from Sky to Movistar had given him "ganancias marginales" :lol: . Brilliant.

Landa really is a bit like Gibo, no filter.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

Landa suggested that his move from Sky to Movistar had given him "ganancias marginales" :lol: . Brilliant.

this is the reason I really like him, he is stellar on and off the bike

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

Landa suggested that his move from Sky to Movistar had given him "ganancias marginales" :lol: . Brilliant.

To be fair, that expression was in the journalist's question. Journos know how to pull words out of Mikel's tongue.

 

[Jspear]

Showing strength and style for July...and to Nairo.

Nairo won’t be impressed unless Landa wins the GC.

I do hope he wins.

 

[KyoGrey]

His panache/style/swag level is very high in this peloton of widespread anonymity.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

His panache/style/swag level is very high in this peloton of widespread anonymity.

His style and swag is Valverde-esque, when he attacks in the drops he is golden!

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

His panache/style/swag level is very high in this peloton of widespread anonymity.

His style and swag is Valverde-esque, when he attacks in the drops he is golden!

His style is even better then Bala's.

Valverde is classy, But Landa is just Dalí, Picasso or Rembrandt on a bike. He doesn't push the pedals, he's
caresses them!

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

His panache/style/swag level is very high in this peloton of widespread anonymity.

His style and swag is Valverde-esque, when he attacks in the drops he is golden!

His style is even better then Bala's.

Valverde is classy, But Landa is just Dalí, Picasso or Rembrandt on a bike. He doesn't push the pedals, he's
caresses them!

Yeah, we can agree on that. He is one of those riders it just looks so easy for and you'll often find yourself wondering why he isn't going faster since it obviously doesn't hurt while he is at 190 BPM. :lol: