"It hurts me... they forget the results I had in the past" - Mikel Landa keen to dispel myth he only shines as super-domestique at 2024 Vuelta a Espana

Mikel Landa is one of the big Spanish hopes at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana. After the stage 1 individual time trial however, the Soudal - Quick-Step man already finds himself with some catching up to do having lost around 50 seconds on Primoz Roglic.

Although the time trial has never been a discipline in which Landa has excelled in, the Basque rider nevertheless entered the 2024 Vuelta a Espana high on confidence after a very strong Tour de France performance earlier this summer, helping team leader Remco Evenepoel to the podium and finishing 5th overall in his own right.

There remains an assumption though, that Landa can only excel when performing as a super domestique, rather than when given leadership himself. This is a myth the 34-year-old is looking to dispel at his home Grand Tour this time around. "It hurts me. Because they forget the results I had in the past when I was the leader," Landa explains to Marca. "I finished fourth in the Tour for the second time or when I finished third in the Giro for the second time as the team leader."

Landa does admit though that the pressures of leadership are something he is aware of. "I feel a lot of pressure," he admits, having finished 92nd in the stage 1 time trial around Lisbon. "It's a great opportunity. I have a good team at my disposal and I want to take advantage of it, let's see if I can do it."

Although the recently crowned double Olympic champion Evenepoel won't be present in Spain, Landa reveals he has been in conversation with the Belgian superstar. "We didn't talk much because I can imagine how busy his phone must be every day. One of the days he spoke to me. He wished me luck and told me that everything was going to go well," Landa explains. "It was incredible what he did. We enjoyed the Tour and then he did great in Paris."