Balancing dreams and duties: Landa hopes to ride the Giro but must also support Evenepoel in the Tour
Cycling
Mikel Landa, the Basque rider who is part of Soudal Quick-Step, is gearing up for the 2025 season, training in Calpe after taking some time off. Reflecting on his well-earned break, the 35-year-old joked on Marca’s cycling podcast: “Yeah, I’ve put on some weight. It would be weird if I hadn’t! I let myself enjoy all the indulgences.” Despite a little bit of extra weight after his vacation, Landa is motivated to make the upcoming season another successful one.
Landa’s move to Soudal Quick-Step last winter was one of the biggest transfers and turned out to be a major success. The experienced Spaniard played a key role in supporting Remco Evenepoel but also performed extremely well individually, finishing second in the Volta a Catalunya, fifth in the Tour de France, and eighth in the Vuelta a España. Speaking with Marca, Landa shared his thoughts on what lies ahead.
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Giro and Tour: Can Landa do both, or will he have to chose?
At the World Championships in Switzerland, Landa hinted that 2025 might be his last year in the peloton. Now, after some time off, he’s less certain. “I don’t know yet. Now is not the time to think about that. When you’re tired, like I was after the season, things can seem different. But after my vacation, I feel great. I still have a contract for next year, and after that, we’ll see.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Landa is excited about new challenges and will once again align his schedule with team leader Evenepoel’s goals. Landa, who was one of the Belgian's best helpers in 2024, hopes to ride the Giro d’Italia, but he’ll need to discuss this with the team since he’s also expected to support Evenepoel in the Tour de France. “I’d love to go back to the Giro, but we’ll have to see if that can be combined with what the team has planned.”
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Lefevere’s departure didn’t come as a surprise for Landa
Landa also commented on Patrick Lefevere’s departure from Soudal. “It’s something we all knew would happen sooner or later, especially after Jurgen (Foré, ed.) joined last year. But for those who’ve worked with him for a long time, it’s still a bit of a shock,” Landa explained.
Will 2025 mark the end of the road for Landa? Time will tell. Based on his performances in 2024, Landa has shown he’s far from done. If he can hit that same level again, it would be hard to imagine him walking away. “I’m starting the new season full of energy, and that’s already a great sign,” the 35-year-old GC rider said, leaving his future plans open for now.
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Latest Comments
- I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024