Mikel Landa - players.bio

Opinion: Mikel Landa, Thibaut Pinot, Chris Froome and the other riders points to prove this weekend at La Vuelta

After Richard Carapaz managed to save his Vuelta with victory on Penas Blancas on Thursday, many other riders will look to use the summit showdowns on La Pandera and the Alto Hoya de la Mora to mastermind their own return to the top table. For the man in red, Remco Evenepoel, Sunday’s blockbuster finale in the Sierra Nevada will not only be a chance to extend his lead at the top of the standings, but will also give the 22-year-old the opportunity to put another myth to bed – namely his inability to perform over long, tough climbs at altitude.

Jay Vine doubles up in mist as Primoz Roglic glues to Remco Evenepoel at La Vuelta

Jay Vine (Alpecin–Deceuninck) disappeared into the mist to claim another sensational win at La Vuelta on Stage 8, as Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) stayed glued to the wheel of Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) in the red jersey. Vine made his move from the breakaway with 6km remaining, decimating a group including aging stars Thibaut Pinot (Groupama–FDJ) and Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious).

La Vuelta 2022: 'We are happy to get out of here' - Riders criticise 'very nervous' start in Netherlands

Alejandro Valverde, Mikel Landa and Wilco Kelderman have all criticised the start to the 2022 Vuelta a Espana, suggesting that the route was too narrow and technical to accommodate such a large peloton. Three weeks of racing at the final Grand Tour of the year commenced with three days in the Netherlands, incorporating a team time-trial and two pan-flat sprinting days which provided few stern tests as Sam Bennett took back-to-back wins.

Opinion: Team time trial discipline makes welcome but subdued return to La Vuelta as Jumbo-Visma triumph

Let’s be honest – it was hardly edge-of-the-seat entertainment or white-knuckle tension. But then when was the last time you could say that about a prologue or opening individual time trial? Even so, we got to witness a supersonic performance from Jumbo-Visma as they got Primoz Roglic’s quest for an historic fourth consecutive Vuelta off the ground.

Primoz Roglic's to lose? The red jersey contenders hoping to surprise the Slovenian at La Vuelta 2022

A month after withdrawing from the Tour de France with a fractured vertebrae, Primoz Roglic will return to action at the Vuelta a Espana in his bid to win a fourth successive red jersey. A course that features fewer steep climbs than usual, an opening team time trial plus a 30km flat individual race against the clock, should suit the 32-year-old Slovenian and his Jumbo-Visma team – provided Roglic has fully recovered from the knock that forced him out of the Tour for a second year running.

Opinion: Ineos Grenadiers and Geraint Thomas emerge unscathed from Jumbo-Visma’s day of hell

Last year Geraint Thomas and Primoz Roglic both saw their yellow jersey bids go up in smoke when crashing badly in Stage 3 on the same day that Jack Haig was forced out of the Tour. Fast forward 12 months and two stages and the Australian Haig was once again a DNF on a day both Thomas and Roglic hit the deck.

Blazin’ Saddles: The final verdict on the 2022 Giro d’Italia after Jai Hindley's historic win in final weekend

On paper, a three-second lead for the best part of the final week seems like a script-writer’s dream. In reality, the tiny gap that separated pink jersey Richard Carapaz and his main rival Jai Hindley dulled the GC battle and made for a sluggish battle of attrition.

Mikel Landa: "Sabía que por mi nivel podía estar en el podio"

(tras el de 2015), su segundo podio en una ronda de tres semanas con el que dio carpetazo a unos cuantos recuerdos amargos: 4º en el Tour 2017 (sólo un segundo por detras de Romain Bardet, que fue 3º) y 2020, y 4º en el Giro 2019 (tras Roglic, por 8"). Con una gran sonrisa atendió a AS en la Arena de Verona.

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Mikel Landa Sport News

Opinion: Mikel Landa, Thibaut Pinot, Chris Froome and the other riders points to prove this weekend at La Vuelta

Jay Vine doubles up in mist as Primoz Roglic glues to Remco Evenepoel at La Vuelta

La Vuelta 2022: 'We are happy to get out of here' - Riders criticise 'very nervous' start in Netherlands

Opinion: Team time trial discipline makes welcome but subdued return to La Vuelta as Jumbo-Visma triumph

Primoz Roglic's to lose? The red jersey contenders hoping to surprise the Slovenian at La Vuelta 2022

Opinion: Ineos Grenadiers and Geraint Thomas emerge unscathed from Jumbo-Visma’s day of hell

Blazin’ Saddles: The final verdict on the 2022 Giro d’Italia after Jai Hindley's historic win in final weekend

Mikel Landa: "Sabía que por mi nivel podía estar en el podio"