Mikel Landa to target the Tour and the Vuelta

Spanish Fan's new favorite, Mikel Landa is looking to ride the Tour de France, Tour of Spain and the World Championships in Innsbruck

Mikel Landa was at the presentayion of the 2018 Vuelta a Espana last week and is almost certain to start in Malaga on August 25 2018, three weeks after taking part in the Tour de France, which is his primary objective and one he is already preparing for. 

Like his Colombian colleague Nairo Quintana, he does not want any friction between them. "I am indifferent, I have already gone through these situations: we both have clear ideas, we both ride for Movistar and we will go out as leaders with Valverde, the road will decide, who we support the most," said Landa..

Mikel Landa's calendar is not complete, but it is based on the three common goals most team leaders across the WorldTour peloton aim for, the Tour de France, Tour of Spain and the World Championship in Innsbruck.

"I have ruled out the Giro because I want to get to the Tour in the best conditions, and peak in a powerful way, for that there is no other option but to sacrifice the Giro," he reasoned. Landa likes the route of the Tour de France "because it has a small time trial and the team we have is strong, to face the Sky, Bardet, Rigoberto Urán. We are very similar in the time trial".

Landa at this point of the year does not want to think about things too much and concentrate on the first goal, but gave a favorable diagnosis of the course of the Spanish Grand Tour. "It's a tough ride, as always in the Vuelta, demanding from the first to the last day," said Landa. "The stages in Andorra are a bit scary, we'll have to save our strength. " he continued.

One of the stages is full Basque regional stage, which pleases him, "The stage to Monte Oiz, stage 17, is very special, any stage that finishes in the Basque Country is, and if it ends up a summit finish as it does, the more chances I will have. The penultimate stage 20, is a very tough stage, with a special draw for cyclists, mythical in Spain, in Andorra, very hard!"

He won a stage in 2015 and more reason to aim for another victory again.

The last, but no less important objective of the season is the Innsbruck World Championships, "a unique opportunity", he proclaimed. "It is very demanding and for climbers, there is no better preparation than the Vuelta," he said.

As for the weight of being the new favorite for Spanish fans, it does not seem to worry him, "I have it under control, when the season starts it will weigh a little bit more on my mind, but I've been progressing for years on a sporting level, and media level, so I think I'll be prepared for that responsibility," he confirmed.

Mikel Landa will start his 2018 season at the Vuelta a Andalucía and is not sure what races will be next, "possibly the Volta to Catalunya, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, we will have to share responsibilities in the team," he said. "Apart from the Tour, Vuelta and World Championships, everything else is not yet confirmed".