Mikel Landa virtually certain to race Vuelta a Espana after Tour de France disappointment

33-year old Mikel Landa is back on track after the Tour de France and is gearing up to the Vuelta a Espana. AS report that this is given as a certainty, the Bahrain - Victorious is currently training in altitude with a goal in mind.

Landa finds himself currently in Tenerife training at altitude, most likely with the Vuelta in his mind. The Basque climber has thrived earlier in the year, perhaps the most successful start of his career, where he rode to the podium at Itzulia Basque Country and Flèche Wallone - additionally finishing second to Tadej Pogacar at the Vuelta a Andalucia, but was also up there with the best and in the top spots of both Tirreno-Adriatico and the Vuelta a Catalunya.

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With a Tour de France fit for the pure climbers and a home start in the Basque Country, Landa was viewed very highly. Whilst Pello Bilbao won a stage and rode into sixth in the overall classification, outside of the opening weekend Landa was a shadow of himself. The Criterium du Dauphiné hinted that he was far from his best form, but he did not achieve it either at the Tour.

He was 19th in France, and then followed that up with a 17th spot at the Clásica San Sebastián - although he did go on the attack and showed signs of improving. A rider that is accustomed to packed schedules and usually has great recovery skills, Landa could for the fourth time in his career ride back-to-back Grand Tours if he rides the Vuelta. In 2017 and 2019 he rode to fourth and sixth at the Tour respectively just off the back of a full Giro d'Italia so it will be very realistic that he will be gearing up to fight for the overall classification alongside the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso.

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