Mikel Landa: Doubts are gone now

MILAN (VN) — Basque climber Mikel Landa has gone from an uncertainty to a Giro d’Italia favorite in a short amount of time. After skipping races two months ago he is now racking up victories, including the Giro del Trentino last week.

Sky’s ace starts the 2016 Giro d’Italia next Friday in the Netherlands as a probable victor. Only 2013 winner Vincenzo Nibali, who also won the 2010 Vuelta a Espana and the 2014 Tour de France, has better odds. Astana’s Nibali is going off at 150 to win, according to bet365.com. Landa is at 250 and Movistar’s Alejandro Valverde is at 450.

“I’m pleased with this win, it’s a big one that gives me motivation ahead of the Giro d’Italia,” Landa told Tutto Bici last Friday after the Giro del Trentino.

The British super team signed Landa over the winter after he raced with Astana for two years. Last year he placed third in the Giro d’Italia.

Landa replaced Richie Porte on the Sky roster, who joined BMC Racing. Landa is Sky’s main GC rider for the “Corsa Rosa,” scheduled for May 6-29.

Far from the Italian Alps in Spain, Landa did not appear on track earlier this season. He was due to start in Sky’s black colors in the Volta a Valenciana on February 3, but that debut was postponed to the Ruta del Sol on February 17. He needed more time on his time trial bike, he said, but then he fell …

continue reading in source velonews.competitor.com