"There’s a step where he is, then a middle step, and then the rest of us": Mikel Landa heaps praise on Tadej Pogacar
Cycling
Mikel Landa’s return to racing at the Volta a Catalunya marks the start of his 17th professional season, a phase in which the Soudal - Quick-Step rider approaches the sport with a different perspective, in step with cycling’s evolution.
Before opening his calendar, the Basque rider reflected in an interview with MARCA on how the hierarchy in the WorldTour peloton has shifted, pointing directly to Tadej Pogacar as today’s benchmark. "He’s on another level. There’s a step where he is, then a middle step, and then the rest of us," Landa said, summing up the current hierarchy of the bunch.
Far from a surrender, this assessment reflects a reset of his goals. Landa admits it is increasingly hard to fight for the top places on GC, so he now prioritises stage wins without losing sight of a solid overall, but without the constant pressure of the podium. "It’s getting harder and harder, so I prefer to focus more on fighting for a stage and still being there in the GC, but maybe without that obsession with the podium," he noted.
Starting the season in Catalunya does not change his motivation. The rider insists he tackles the year with the same intention as always: to enjoy racing and seize every opening. "There’s nothing in particular that makes this season special, but I hope to enjoy it like all the others, have fun and make the most of every moment," he said.
The Volta a Catalunya gathers headline protagonists such as Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Joao Almeida, raising the competitive bar at a point in the calendar when simply banking race rhythm is no longer enough.
"Just getting race pace isn’t sufficient anymore; it’s March and you have to take the chances that come. There are very strong rivals, so winning will be difficult, but we’ll try to be there," he commented.
Across his career, the rider has had to adapt to cycling’s constant shifts. Tools like power control have been part of his routine since turning pro, while newer trends have proved more demanding. "Power has been with me since I became professional, so I’m used to it. But newer trends, like heat training, are harder for me. Even so, I’ve adapted as best I could," he acknowledged.
Mikel Landa focused before race start
The key to longevity
For Landa, staying at the top for so many years comes down to sacrifice and recovery. He believes performance in cycling depends largely on daily recovery, both to reach peak level and to overcome difficult moments. "A lot of sacrifice and recovery capacity. Our performance is based on recovering every day, whether to reach the highest level or to come back after an injury," he explained.
Looking ahead, the rider sets no firm limits. He does not know if this will be his final season, but for now he intends to keep racing, leaving any definitive decision for later.
"I don’t know if it will be my last year. In my head I want to continue. We’ll see during the season whether it’s here or elsewhere, how and under what conditions, but right now my idea is to carry on," he concluded.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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