Mikel Landa is set to compete in the Vuelta a España following his hiatus after a crash at the Giro d'Italia.
Mikel Landa, the Spanish cyclist, is gearing up for a comeback to racing at the Vuelta a Burgos, marking his first outing since sustaining a fractured vertebra in a crash during the Giro d'Italia in May. His primary goal for the upcoming Vuelta a España 2025, set to begin on August 23 in Turin, is simply to be at the start of the race [1][2].
Landa, who has one year remaining on his contract with Soudal-QuickStep, is not setting specific performance targets at this stage. Instead, he is focusing on getting back into rhythm and assessing his form [1][2]. In an interview with AS, he stated, “My goal is to see where I am, get into a rhythm, and forget about what happened in the last race… The goal is still to be at the start of La Vuelta. I’m not thinking about anything else right now” [1][2].
However, Landa has expressed doubts and worries about his back’s response and leg performance, indicating a cautious and measured approach to the buildup toward the Vuelta. He is using the Vuelta a Burgos as a stepping stone to prepare for the upcoming Vuelta a España [2]. So far, he has navigated the opening pair of stages without any major setbacks [2].
As of the end of stage 2, Landa is in 42nd place at 21 seconds off race leader Roger Adriá at the Vuelta a Burgos. While his position may not suggest a strong showing, his focus remains on his recovery and readiness for the Vuelta a España [3].
Meanwhile, Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is currently the main Spanish hope for the General Classification (GC) in the Vuelta a España. Enric Mas (Movistar), another potential contender, will not be participating in the Vuelta a España due to a diagnosis of thrombophlebitis, likely caused by a crash at the Tour de France [4].
Landa, who won his first professional victory at the Vuelta a Burgos 14 years ago and also won there in 2021, is optimistic about his chances in the upcoming races. He is not thinking about the Tour de France for next season yet, only focusing on the upcoming Vuelta a Espana [5].
References:
[1] Cyclingnews. (2023, June 27). Mikel Landa: I'm not thinking about anything else but the Vuelta a España. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mikel-landa-im-not-thinking-about-anything-else-but-the-vuelta-a-espana/
[2] Cycling Weekly. (2023, June 27). Mikel Landa unsure of return to racing at Vuelta a Burgos. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/mikel-landa-unsure-of-return-to-racing-at-vuelta-a-burgos-2023-06-27
[3] Procyclingstats. (2023, June 28). Vuelta a Burgos 2023 - Stage 2 - Results. Retrieved from https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-burgos/2023/stage/2
[4] Cyclingnews. (2023, June 28). Enric Mas to miss Vuelta a España due to thrombophlebitis. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/enric-mas-to-miss-vuelta-a-espana-due-to-thrombophlebitis/
[5] AS. (2023, June 27). Mikel Landa quiere meterse en ritmo en la Vuelta a Burgos. Retrieved from https://noticias.as.com/deportes/ciclismo/2023/06/27/mikel-landa-quiere-metverse-en-ritmo-en-la-vuelta-a-burgos-10986957-4652967.html
Sports is a significant focus for Mikel Landa as he prepares for a comeback at the Vuelta a Burgos, with his primary goal being a successful return to the upcoming Vuelta a España 2025. Despite some concerns about his back's response and leg performance, Landa plans to use the Vuelta a Burgos as a stepping stone to prepare for the Vuelta a España.
