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"I’ve had little time and miracles can’t be done" - Mikel Landa underplays GC possibilities ahead of Vuelta a Espana
CyclingFriday, 19 August 2022 at 13:00
Third place at the Giro d'Italia, Mikel Landa has returned to his best form this year in Italy and for the Vuelta a Espana he was expected to have similarly high ambitions. The Bahrain - Victorious rider is not confident however, explaining that he's lacking the form to make it happen.
“I would like to be competitive, but this time I don’t arrive in the same form as at other times or in other races," Landa said in a press conference. "I’m not here to fight for the general, it’s a shame I’m not a little better, but in any case, I’ll give everything I can. We’ll see if I can look for the GC or partial successes. I hope that people continue to be excited about me".
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After the Giro, Landa took a break from competition that lasted over two months. He did not specify, but he's talked of an health issue which saw him off the bike: “The problem before Burgos stopped me for a month, and then I trained well until here, but I’ve had little time and miracles can’t be done".
In Burgos he did not ride for himself but for leader Santiago Buitrago, however a 44th place in the mountainous race showed signs that he was far from his best. Although having had another week of training to build some form, and the Vuelta being a long race where it is crucial to have your best game in the final week, the hefty amount of mountainous days in the opening week are likely be to a make or break for the Basque's GC ambitions.
Gino Mäder and Colombian Santiago Buitrago will likely be the team's priorities when it comes to the overall classification, however only on the road will there be decisions. The riders who topped Landa at the Giro, Jai Hindley and Richard Carapaz, will also be present in the Vuelta.
“There is a wide range of favorites. Primož Roglič is number one," Landa surprisingly says, "but there are other candidates like Richard Carapaz, Jai Hindley, Miguel Ángel López and even ourselves. You have to spend a few days to see how each one is doing," he concluded.
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