Recovering Landa looks at Giro with jealousy and recognizes awkward situation Del Toro: "I also had better legs then"

The Tour de France looks very unlikely for Landa. Team director Iljo Keisse already said it would be a “miracle” if the 35-year-old Spaniard made it to Le Grand Départ. That’s why the focus is shifting toward the Vuelta a España, and Landa is a bit more optimistic about that. “I’m sure I’ll make it to the Vuelta,” he told Eurosport. “Given the circumstances, the fracture was a good one, it’s stable, and everything is going well. The pain is getting less every day.”

Landa is now able to move, and even walk, thanks to a back brace. Next week, he’ll get an X-ray to determine whether he can cautiously start training on rollers. But missing the Giro still stings. “I felt a bit down because I had high hopes for the Giro. I was in really good shape. I sacrificed the first part of the season to be here, but my dreams of a podium comeback and a stage win went up in smoke.”

Last year, Landa was Remco Evenepoel’s super-domestique in the Tour de France, and this year he was supposed to play the same role again. But as mentioned earlier, that’s looking very unlikely. It’s a major disappointment for the man who finished fifth overall last year. “It’s going to be hard for us to see each other at the Tour. It’s a shame, the whole year is going by without us racing together.”

Ideally, the Soudal Quick-Step rider would be near the top of the Giro GC himself, but instead he’s forced to watch from the sidelines. And he’s watching Isaac Del Toro ride an impressive Giro, which brings back memories of the 2015 edition for Landa. Back then, riding in support of Fabio Aru, he won two stages and finished third overall. “I see Del Toro racing, and I remember how I had better legs than Aru, but had to respect him as team leader. Even though that held me back from racing for myself. It’s kind of the same now.”

Fans who remember that Giro know that Landa may have been the strongest climber, but team leadership designated Aru to take on Alberto Contador. It caused significant tension within the team. Something similar could happen at UAE Team Emirates–XRG, where Juan Ayuso is considered the primary leader. The third week could get interesting. “But it wouldn’t be classy of Ayuso to attack his own leader while he’s wearing pink,” Landa concluded.