"I'd like to win tomorrow's stage" - Mikel Landa has not abandoned plan to outclimb competition at Volta a Catalunya

Mikel Landa is fourth in the overall classification of the Volta a Catalunya. The Basque has looked good, but not super in the first two days of high mountains and hopes the dynamic will change heading into Friday's decisive stage:

"I'm fine, I'm fine, I came out well from Tirreno and here I'm still fine, there's a lot of pace and the rivals are very strong, so thinking day by day to see if tomorrow we can still fight for a stage," he said at the end of stage four. "In every race there are always good people and it's difficult to surprise them".

The Bahrain Victorious rider explains that, compared to other seasons, his preparation has changed because he's focused on the Tour and not the Giro, so he's racing at full throttle in these races: "Other years as I was thinking about the Giro I couldn't be at 100%. This year I wanted to race them and then rest before the Tour. I'd like to win tomorrow's stage and I think if I win I'll be a little closer to the podium".

The Basque starts the fifth stage of the race into Lo Port in fourth place 44 seconds down on Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel, and 25 seconds behind third placed Giulio Ciccone.