Mikel Landa Discussion Thread

[yaco]

Who else would lead the team in the giro

Gino Mader.

 

[johnymax]

I doubt that Bahrain Victorious will allow him to ride for GC - He's had too many chances !

I think they will. Hopefully they are not stupid and don't give him full support again. Like you said, a rider like Mader deserves a chance to co-lead at least. In relation to results Landa has probably been the rider with most freedom of all in the peloton. #FreeLanda

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I doubt that Bahrain Victorious will allow him to ride for GC - He's had too many chances !

What do you mean "too many chances"? He's had his chances and he's taken them. Yes he DNF'ed his two GT's this season, but he finished 4, 7, 4, 6, 4 in his previous five GT's. He's one of the most consistent GT riders of the last three years and he should of course be given a leader role.

 

[Netserk]

Surely, he is the most likely winner of the 2022 Giro d'Italia as of today? Or do we think Almeida is more likely to win the race? Carapaz (factoring in his likelihood of participating)?

 

[AlfaLum]

He is the most likely top favorite to DNF yes.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Landismo is not about top favorite or second most top favourite, most consistent or forgettable things like this. It's about the way your soul dances as he dances away from the group of climbers, the heroic efforts in the drops, the puppy eyes, the butterflies as you don't know whether he will be the strongest, dissapointing, or crash. Its the relentless anticipation of a controversial rider who honors the sport finally achieving his potential after a decade of misfortune. Its about the memories, the inspiration, the assault on the sense and the beauty. Rebelling against the robots who spend months on volcanoes and have no personality. Landismo is alive #freelanda.


Its not about winning, it's about how you win.

 

[BlueRoads]

As of now I'd think Carapaz, and maybe Lopez, are more likely to win. I'd tie him with Almeida.

 

[Nirvana]

I love Landa but who has the biggest chance is whoever starts as his second fiddle, i think Mader since the logic would say Landa and Mader + token Bilbao for the Giro and Haig and Caruso + token Bilbao for the Tour.

 

[AlfaLum]

Almeida for me looks way more like the winning type than Landa and MAL, so for now if it is purely for the win I would rate Almeida higher. I would also rate Simon Yates higher.

Landa and MAL will probably just be semi-favorites at the start with a bunch of other guys if they start such as Gaudu, Buchmann, Vlasov, Tao, Martinez, a Jumbo captain etc.

 

[BigCoward]

MAL is not a winner, neither is Landa, Carapaz is. No way he shouldn't be current favourite even accounting for fact he isn't confirmed.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

MAL is not a winner, neither is Landa, Carapaz is. No way he shouldn't be current favourite even accounting for fact he isn't confirmed.

Landa has more style though

 

[Salvarani]

MAL is not a winner, neither is Landa, Carapaz is. No way he shouldn't be current favourite even accounting for fact he isn't confirmed.

Both of them has more wins than Carapaz, as of now.

But in terms of what they have won. Giro and an Olympic Gold of course tops anything the others have won.

Factually, you are wrong though on them not being "winners" compared to Carapaz.

 

[Mayomaniac]

To me Simon Yates is a Vuelta rider, those high mountain stages are probably still too hard for him.
I don't think he's that great on a multi-mountain stage and at altitude. Hindley has probably a better chance that him, if he finds his 2020 legs again.

 

[BlueRoads]

To me Simon Yates is a Vuelta rider, those high mountain stages are probably still too hard for him.
I don't think he's that great on a multi-mountain stage and at altitude. Hindley has probably a better chance that him, if he finds his 2020 legs again.

I think Hindley's problem wasn't finding his legs as much as being able to forget other parts of his body.

 

[Salvarani]

To me Simon Yates is a Vuelta rider, those high mountain stages are probably still too hard for him.
I don't think he's that great on a multi-mountain stage and at altitude. Hindley has probably a better chance that him, if he finds his 2020 legs again.

Feel like he was in the form of his life 2018 when he won. That whole year.

Right now that season looking like an outlier though... if he does not find that form again.

I think he is more a one-week rider. He will have a hard time competing against Roglic, Pog and Bernal in the GTs.

But those can always crash out or just have a bad race. Then he and some others are right there to take advantage of the opportunity.

 

[yaco]

Feel like he was in the form of his life 2018 when he won. That whole year.

Right now that season looking like an outlier though... if he does not find that form again.

I think he is more a one-week rider. He will have a hard time competing against Roglic, Pog and Bernal in the GTs.

But those can always crash out or just have a bad race. Then he and some others are right there to take advantage of the opportunity.

My understanding is S.Yates is riding the TDF in 2022 - No idea if stage hunting or GC.

 

[Salvarani]

My understanding is S.Yates is riding the TDF in 2022 - No idea if stage hunting or GC.

That would be a bit of a shame if that would be the case, since the Giro route probably suits him the best with less ITT km.

Perhaps the sponsor wants him at the Tour though this year in good form without having done the Giro beforehand. Probably going to the Vuelta also if so.

 

[AlfaLum]

My understanding is S.Yates is riding the TDF in 2022 - No idea if stage hunting or GC.

Probably the team wants him there, but the Giro-Vuelta combination is by far the best for him. Would be a shame if Simon needs to go to the Tour again.

 

[BigCoward]

Both of them has more wins than Carapaz, as of now.

But in terms of what they have won. Giro and an Olympic Gold of course tops anything the others have won.

Factually, you are wrong though on them not being "winners" compared to Carapaz.

Both have won far less than their talents say they should have. Losers.
And let's all laugh at comparing their palmares to a Giro gc win and Olympic road race because of 'more'.

 

[BigCoward]

Feel like he was in the form of his life 2018 when he won. That whole year.

Right now that season looking like an outlier though... if he does not find that form again.

I think he is more a one-week rider. He will have a hard time competing against Roglic, Pog and Bernal in the GTs.

But those can always crash out or just have a bad race. Then he and some others are right there to take advantage of the opportunity.

In top form he might be the only other rider who could win a gc that they all started. It would have to be a low TT vuelta, but it's theoretically possible.

 

[Froome]

How many grand tours will he win? he might be the strongest in this giro.

I think he might be the next Froome.

0.

 

[Salvarani]

Both have won far less than their talents say they should have. Losers.
And let's all laugh at comparing their palmares to a Giro gc win and Olympic road race because of 'more'.

Ok, cool. Facts say they have won more races numbers wise, as of now. You cant say they are not winners. Whether they should have won more to match their talent is a complete different topic.

Did you even read my post... I said Giro and Olympic gold obviously tops anything they have won.

 

[Breh]

Ok, cool. Facts say they have won more races numbers wise, as of now. You cant say they are not winners. Whether they should have won more to match their talent is a complete different topic.

Did you even read my post... I said Giro and Olympic gold obviously tops anything they have won.

Considering Landa has 3 wins in his past four seasons while Carapaz has 12, you could make a case for Carapaz being more of a winner than Landa.

 

[Salvarani]

Considering Landa has 3 wins in his past four seasons while Carapaz has 12, you could make a case for Carapaz being more of a winner than Landa.

Yes, if the argument is we only counting the last four seasons.

 

[SafeBet]

I don't get how Landa would even be in the same tier of favorites as Carapaz after the last 3 years of racing.
Landa hasn't podiumed a GT in 6 years. Carapaz has podiumed 3 of the last 4 GTs he's finished.