It is no secret that in recent years,
Soudal - Quick-Step have been making a concerted effort to improve their climbing ranks and therefore strengthen the support of Grand Tour leader,
Remco Evenepoel. Arguably the most important signing made has been
Mikel Landa.
“I am very proud of the decision I made to sign Mikel because many people said to me: Mikel Landa? Really? He is 34 years old," recalls a now vindicated Soudal - Quick-Step team boss,
Patrick Lefevere in conversation with
AS. "Now, if you ask all those pessimistic people who had that thought eight or nine months ago, they would have a different answer now. He is a great teammate and a brilliant rider. He has shown in the past that he can be with great leaders and he will be very important for Evenepoel.”