3 reasons why Mikel Landa has a golden opportunity to win the 2024 Vuelta a Espana

The Vuelta a España 2024 is close to it's start. On August 17, the peloton will take the start in Lisbon, in a very open edition where Spanish cycling can see again a winner of the general classification 10 years later with the presence of a clear candidate: Mikel Landa.

No local rider has won the Spanish Grand Tour since Alberto Contador in 2014, ahead of Chris Froome and Alejandro Valverde. However, in a year in which the lineup of participants is not the most prominent in its history, far from it, the 34-year-old Soudal Quick-Step rider is facing his big chance, as analysed by CiclismoAlDia. 

Below, we look at the 3 reasons why we believe Landa is capable of finishing the three-week race as the brand new winner of the Vuelta a España 2024.

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1. No major rivals for Mikel Landa

At the moment, there are no major rivals in the potential fight for the overall. That's a fact. Right now, Sepp Kuss looks like the big favorite for the win because of his status as reigning champion, when Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic ceded the win to him in 2023 after his outstanding performance over the three weeks.

And it's not like Kuss is in spectacular form either. Now in the Vuelta a Burgos, the American is competing for the first time since his retirement by COVID in the Tour de France before he can start the Grande Boucle. The same goes for Enric Mas, another favorite. The Movistar Team rider, although he finished the Tour well, was soon out of the fight for the overall, the same thing that happened to him in the previous Tour de Suisse.

In addition, neither Tadej Pogacar nor Jonas Vingegaard will be there, two riders against whom Landa would have nothing to do. Remco Evenepoel won't be at La Vuelta either, so the Basque rider won't be forced to act as his domestique. The only unknown is Primoz Roglic, who as he had to abandon the Tour de France due to a crash, the door to the Spanish grand tour was opened for him, but Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has not yet given any clues that the Slovenian could be there.

Mikel Landa together with João Almeida (5th and 4th) at the Tour de France. @Sirotti

2. A very tough course that does not scare him because of his great Tour de France

The route of this Vuelta a España 2024 will be very hard, and Mikel Landa is one of the best climbers in the peloton. In addition, it is worth remembering that he has just finished 5th in the overall classification of the Tour de France, as the best Spaniard in the race, and being at all times the main assistant of Evenepoel in the high mountains.

He himself, in statements made after finishing the Grande Boucle, said he was looking forward to arriving at La Vuelta. Landa is aware that he will land in Lisbon with practically unbeatable legs. This year's Grand Tour will feature six flat stages, 13 medium and high mountain stages (nine mountain stages), and two time trials.

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3. The significant lack of pressure at Soudal Quick-Step

The third most important point when it comes to Mikel Landa's ability to compete to win the Vuelta a España is his role at Soudal Quick-Step. The 34-year-old arrived at the Belgian team last winter with a simple goal: to be Remco Evenepoel's main domestique in the Tour de France, as mentioned above.

The success was absolute, with Evenepoel taking 3rd overall in his Grande Boucle debut as the best of the rest behind Pogacar and Vingegaard, plus the aforementioned 5th place for Landa behind João Almeida. So it can be said that their homework was done.

This is crucial to arrive at La Vuelta without pressure. Mikel Landa is not the star of Quick-Step, Remco Evenepoel is. So he can't be required to compete for the victory. After the Tour, everything is welcome. Landa will do his race and, if he maintains the level he has given in France, I am absolutely sure he will be there in the fight to become the new winner of the great Spanish Tour.

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