Mikel Landa regrets the absence of Pogacar and Vingegaard from the Giro: "They would help me to..."

Mikel Landa spoke with Marca colleagues before the start of a Giro d'Italia in which he will be the leader of Soudal - Quick-Step. He does so days after renewing his contract with the Belgian team for one more season, and has had interesting things to say.

As it could not be otherwise, he is very confident in his chances and, among other things, he talks about the race, the absences (mainly Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard), his goals and Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso.

"It's the race where I exploded as a grand tour rider. Every time I go back there I come back with a smile, even though I've also had hard times. I think it's a very special race."

"It was time to return to this Giro. I hadn't been here for several years. The last time I did it I finished on the podium and it was time to come back. If not, maybe in 2026 it might be too late."

"It might be my last chance to get on the podium in a grand tour."

"All three are special. Yes the Giro has managed, like the good Italians they are, to sell themselves well and make a different race. More passionate."

"No, not in my case. If it's not them, it will be others. What's more, I would sometimes prefer them to be there because they can exploit the race more and help me leave rivals behind that I couldn't on my own."

"I think the team needs a rider for the overall. If I respond from the beginning I will do what I always do. If something happens, which can always happen like a crash or not feeling well, the chip will be changed. But, for the moment, the body is not asking me to do anything else in this race."

"Sometimes I've already thought about it, that I can take a beating like nobody else because years go by and I'm still at a good level here. Every rider has his forte and maybe the head is one of mine."

"There can be surprises. The Giro has always been very capricious. The first week it looks like one rider is going to win it, but the second week another rider shows up and in the last week comes the rider who takes it."

"Hopefully. It could be a great opportunity for Juan and for Spanish cycling."

"I see him taking a little step further. He's very mature taking responsibility for the races and breaking them down."

"I think we have little room for improvement. Roglic, moreover, is a rider who has been at a very high level for five years. I see it difficult for him to improve, but you never know."

"They are cyclists who have always been there or we have always been there. Maybe with a stroke of luck or experience we veterans can surprise."