Join us as we delve into the heart-pounding world of professional cycling as Mikel Landa, the experienced Basque climber, gears up for an exciting season with Soudal Quick-Step. Fresh from a stellar performance in the 2023 Vuelta and a podium at the 2022 Giro d’Italia, Landa takes on a supporting role for Remco Evenepoel in the Tour de France, all while anticipating a lead in the 2024 Vuelta a España.

We'll explore Landa's passion for climbing and the Giro d’Italia, as well as his admiration for Evenepoel's determination, as they strive for that essential rider-to-rider connection.

We’ll also bring you some invaluable climbing training tips, techniques, in-and-out of the saddle, and the burning question: Does he glance at his power meter during a race? Get ready for a thrilling journey into the world of cycling prowess and camaraderie!

Enjoy!

(00:00) Introduction
(03:10) The Basque Country
(10:29) Talent for Climbing, Cycling Heroes
(12:32) First Pro-Race
(13:50) Giro d'Italia
(16:43) Evolution of Bike Technology
(17:59) The Mental Game
(20:15) Race on Instinct vs. Radio
(21:20) Grand Tours
(24:22) What Makes a Great Climber
(26:45) Improve Your Climbing Skills
(31:16) Powermeter
(32:37) Ending


MIKEL LANDA
So from that moment I started looking more to Italian racers, to the history of Italian cycling and I got in love with Italy. I have a look on the Tour a little bit. I think this year was important to race more at the beginning with Remco to know each one. I think it's important to spend time together because we cannot make mistakes during the Tour. What do you think, what makes a great climber?

SOREN JENSEN
Hello everyone and welcome to the Castelli podcast. In today's episode we have a special treat for all you cycling fans out there. We are thrilled to bring you some invaluable climbing tips from none other than Mikel Landa, one of the best World Tour climbers and a guy that knows how to ride Grand Tours with two-third overall places at the Giro. Three Grand Tours stage wins and he knows how to win Grand Tours with his team, helping Chris Froome to victory in 2016 and 2017. So get ready to elevate your climbing game as we embark on this thrilling journey with Mikel Landa. Let's dive in. Mikel, first of all, I would like to wish you a happy birthday. Feliz cumpleaños. 34 years of age.

MIKEL LANDA
Yes, 34. 34.

SOREN JENSEN
It's a time, it's like.. how many years have you been in the Pro Peloton now?

MIKEL LANDA
Pro peloton 14 years, 13 of them like a World Tour rider. Still, yeah, if I look back, it's quite long.

SOREN JENSEN
Yeah, you started out with Euskaltel and you're also from the best country. So it was, I think it was a normal mix, no? A match.

MIKEL LANDA
Yes, it's been, I think, a natural, yeah, natural way to become a pro rider, no? Fortunately, we had a perfect team, a perfect structure to become pro riders in those days. We had a development team, continental team and then Euskaltel. I think I followed the step, the need steps to become pro and one day my dream became true. And then to feel like a real pro, that I could be a good cyclist, I think that I realized when I was already in Euskaltel. After a couple of years being a pro cyclist, I said, maybe this is my way, because I was also studying at the same time. So, yeah, I have never been 100% focused on cycling, but at one moment I needed to decide and I think it was after a couple of years.

SOREN JENSEN
How is it to be from the best country and be one of the best in the game but also you won two of the best countries twice if I remember right? I mean you must be a national hero in your home area.

MIKEL LANDA
Cycling in Basque Country is very popular. I think most of us, we are cyclists, some of us we are riders, other people are just cyclotourists, not pro riders, they love cycling, others like supporting cycling. So at the end I think it's very popular in Basque Country and everyone likes and feels a lot of cycling. So you have been a part of the game in all of Basque Country always, in special.

SOREN JENSEN
It must be very special. But also the Basque Country is also known for its changes in climate because you can have hot summer days to very cold and wet days. I think that also strengthens you as a cyclist growing up in such a climate. Because of today you still live back home from, you know, where in the Basque Country, right? With your family.

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, yeah. I'm lucky, you know, I didn't need to move my place of living. Never, no. I think I found everything I need in Basque Country to become a pro rider and still ride like a pro being there. We have long enough climbs, hilly percourses, also flat percourses. And then we have the weather. Sometimes it's wet, cold, but yeah, after the spring, I think we will have very good weather. So I think it's the perfect area for cycling.

SOREN JENSEN
I visited the area a few times and really enjoyed it. I just remember everything apart from the climbs and the rolling landscapes, then also the beauty, the colors, everything was green versus other places. You go further south in Spain, you know, it quickly becomes very dry and desert. And also, Mikel, a warm welcome back in Castelli and congrats on your two-year contract with Soudal Quickstep. Do you still remember the last time we met in person? That was six years ago in 2017. Or do you more remember the team Sky Kit that we came in sponsoring the team with their victory alliance? It's also, yeah, again, the same year you helped Froomi to his last Tour victory. But for us that was a special year, but your results also in general that season were very and pretty amazing. Are you looking forward to getting back into Castelli gear for the coming two years?

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, I'm very happy to be again with Castelli Gear. I have very good memories from 2017 with that bike fit. So yeah, I'm really happy to wear it again and I feel safe with Castelli again. I think it's more or less easy to have a nice summer kit. I think the difference is made in the winter kit. And I feel comfortable and safe with Castelli now. Yeah, definitely. When the weather changes to the worst, then it's where the whole fall weather products of Castelli come in.

SOREN JENSEN
And it's a product that we keep having requests, as you know yourself, from also non-sponsored Castelli cyclists from around the world, especially the World Tour. Every time that the weather gets worse, they're always calling us asking for products, if they could buy this or that. So, Mikel, you already touched a little bit on your early years with how you got into pro cycling, but tell us about how you got into cycling in general. Who was your dad, your father? Was it someone in your family that gave you that push to start with cycling?

MIKEL LANDA
Well, I think I grew up with a bike at home. And yeah, I used to use the bike to meet my friends. We were living close between us, but maybe not enough to meet us walking. So we always used bikes. And it was like a game, no? Just riding the bike. Then in my village was a cycling club. And I always saw them and say I like this, I like racing and yeah finally when I was 14 years old I asked my parents to join the school of cycling and I started racing and fortunately I found a very nice group of friends there, I still have like a friend and that's what I take the best of cycling, the group we did and yes, I think since then I never stopped.

SOREN JENSEN
Did anyone else from that group turn professional like yourself?

MIKEL LANDA
No, from the first years no.

SOREN JENSEN
So you're still in contact with everyone today and you still meet up.

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, yeah, we are still friends, like kids friends.

SOREN JENSEN
And you go for bike rides maybe once in a while when you're home, you're not racing or...

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, maybe not for bike riding, but I always go take some drinks or go for dinner. Yeah, we are still good friends, best friends.

SOREN JENSEN
No offense from the older generation of the ProPeloton, you said that now you have a few drinks. Today you see with the younger generation, they hardly ever touch alcohol. I mean, I don't know that many that really touch alcohol anymore, but it is nice once in a while just to have a beer or have a drink and just chill with your friends. Is it still something that you enjoy?

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, I think it's really, really needed. I think cycling is my life, but I need life also to be a cyclist. I think we need some disconnection moments. And the social aspects, it also creates sitting down with friends. To feel stronger for the next day and fully relaxed.

SOREN JENSEN
Also because as we know from studies and from science that one drink once in a while doesn't hurt anything. I've heard rumors that actually in the ProTour, I don't know if it's true or not, but Alejandro Valverde once in a while he will have a beer on the bus driving back to the hotel. Now you've been, you know, a teammate with Alejandro. Can you confirm that?

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, it's true. It's true. He took one beer a day when he really wanted. I think he was super professional.

SOREN JENSEN
Yeah, look at his palmares just like yourself.

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, and how many years he did at a high level. Yeah, and he felt that he needed it and he was convinced that he was good for it.

SOREN JENSEN
Gives a little bit of extra relaxing boost that like, you know, after the recovery shake and everything, you know, just can have that relaxed moment enjoying your beer. So Mikel, growing up, when did you find out that you have a talent for cycling and racing and especially climbing?

MIKEL LANDA
I feel like a climber since I think since juniors, since juniors, no? Yeah, when I was younger, it was difficult to finish the races because I was always the smallest in the bunch. So not easy, but then in juniors, I started to make some difference climbing, no? So I felt like a climber and also my idols, they were also always climbers.

SOREN JENSEN
Who were your cycling heroes, childhood cycling heroes?

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, my biggest hero was Iban Mayo from Euskaltel. I also have in mind Roberto Heras. And yeah, those kind of climbers that make a difference.

SOREN JENSEN
I remember my days working with Saunier Duval. Ivan was a very interesting person, very nice person. Do you know him personally, Ivan?

MIKEL LANDA
No, no, no. I don't know him.

SOREN JENSEN
I was a big fan of Pantani, like a lot of other people, of course, but also, unfortunately, he's no longer here for many years. Jiménez, that's also a long time ago. What about Carlos Sastre?

MIKEL LANDA
He didn’t trasmit anything special to me, but I’ve always appreciated him.

SOREN JENSEN
What he didn't transmit to you is like, what I like to see about Pantani, but also Contador, is like when they're out of the saddle and do these more explosive accelerations and surprise everyone. I mean, you knew that when they were, especially Pantani, when he was, which is also something I've seen you do often when you're in the drops, it means that there's something on. Is that right?

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like a moment to remember.

SOREN JENSEN
So you actually move around a lot on the handlebars, you know, when you're climbing. I mean, you're up in the hoods, it's more relaxed, just keeping the pace and when you're in the drops it means now things are getting serious. Do you still remember your first race as a professional cyclist and what was it like?

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, I remember. It was at the Challenge of Mallorca with Orbea. It was a continental team with rain and rainy and cold weather. But I was feeling good. I remember I was attacking in some climbs against riders from Euskaltel and they were my idols and other, a lot of good riders. They have very good memories from that day.

SOREN JENSEN
You always remember your first race or your first races, no? Versus later in your career with some of the bigger highlights maybe. There were some of the cornerstones in your career, those early steps. You were once quoted saying that the Giro d'Italia is the most beautiful race on the cycling calendar, both because of its demanding route and the passion of the fans. Also your career, what I see, breakthrough came at the 2015 Giro d'Italia Italia with two stage wins, finishing third overall and winning the Maglia Azzurra, the KOM fine burst jersey. Tell us more about your love for the Giro d'Italia and why do you think it's different to the other Grand Tours?

MIKEL LANDA
Well, so I think I met the Giro d'Italia in 2014. I was riding with Astana, a team from Kazakhstan, but with a lot of Italians members, like staff or also riders. So yeah, I think that helps to know a little bit more about the Italian races to have a different feeling. So I knew the roads better, the tricky sections. I have more close fans, I think, because they knew a lot of us. So from that moment, I started looking at more Italian races to the history of Italian cycling and I fell in love with Italy. No, it's fantastic.

SOREN JENSEN
The food is amazing and the scenery is stunning. And then you also have the gear, the diversity in the climbs and the climate in May, because you can have rain, you can have snow, you can have cold temperatures, you can have everything, which is not going to happen at the Tour or the Vuelta. That day, when we're talking about the climate, will be a very hot day like you have in the Vuelta. Which Giro climb is your favorite and why?

MIKEL LANDA
My favorite is difficult to choose, but maybe Zoncolan. What year? 2015. I was feeling super, but also 2017, but we did from the opposite way. Then in 2019 with Carapaz, he won that title. I was teaming with him. We also did quite well there. I think it's a perfect climb for me, very steep, quite long. You like the climbs, you like the steeper climbs, like with the heavier gradient above 15%. I prefer it. There are climbs that everyone needs to take his pace. Going on the wheel is not a big difference. I think it's a war between each one of us.

SOREN JENSEN
Also here with the steep climbs, it was interesting, especially with you with 13 years in the ProPeloton and 14 years pro, including also Conti. How have you seen the evolution of bike equipment? Talking here about the compact gearing, which we didn't have 10 years ago, skinnier tires, a bit heavier bikes, you know, going back and do the Zoncolan today, well, let's see, not in a race situation maybe, because everything is hard when you're racing, but in a training, will be easier, will feel easier than it used to.

MIKEL LANDA
Yes, exactly. Now with the wearings we are using, you can do the climb you want. I mean, you can use a compact with a big chain on the back, light wheels. I think we have bigger choices to try to do the hardest climb. And then on the races, as always, what makes it painful is the speed. So I think nowadays we are doing very fast climbs. We are doing climbs 20 per hour, 25. So I'm still happy because we can find climbs like Zoncolan or Angliru where the speed is lower.

SOREN JENSEN
So what is then on such a big, epic climb like the Zoncolan, what is then the physical strategy, also when looking at some of the other guys when you're playing the game, like pretending not to suffer or pretending... is that this mental game? Is that something that you played on or you guys are playing in when you're in the high mountains and you see that people start hurting?

MIKEL LANDA
I think most cyclists, we think that also the others are a fact. So yeah, it's always try to go longer in the effort and every five minutes for sure someone is dropping or something is happening. So it's about doing small goals in your head to try to go longer and longer and Yeah, and keep going on time.

SOREN JENSEN
Someone told me and maybe I read it somewhere a long time ago, that sometimes you also reach out for your bidon or the water bottle just showing that the other guys you got extra energy. You know or is it just then no no just to take a sip from your water bottle while everyone else is really sitting there at the back of me.

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, it can be.

SOREN JENSEN
Because it also shows you that you got maybe a few percent extra off, I don't know if it's something that you don't do on purpose.

MIKEL LANDA
No, no, no. I hear also that when you drink something for two seconds or three seconds, you forget the fatigue.

SOREN JENSEN
Ah, interesting. So maybe that's, yeah. So also on a big climb, and it's basically like the Zoncolan where only motorbikes are allowed to go up there with spare wheels, no team cars. How do you approach a race strategy and decision making by doing critical moments in a race? Maybe we don't have the team car, you've got the radio, or one thing is that you've got the team director who's sitting way behind the front group or in the pack and cannot see what is happening, but you have to act on instinct. Is this something that is often taking place now? Because in the past with no race radio, I think most riders were moving on instinct most of the time and talking to each other. But is this still something that is happening? Because I see a lot of the younger generation, they really stick to the race radio and they don't do anything that's not being told by the DS. How do you see that?

MIKEL LANDA
I think you need to have the ideas very clear before the start. Who is going to help someone in case of mechanicals, who is the leader, who needs to be supported every time. And more or less easy, once that is clear, no? I think every team we are riding like, if we were just one. We need to, you need to keep the goals the same and if someone needs you, help him.

SOREN JENSEN
Mikel, let's talk about Grand Tours, because also Soudal Quick-Step brought you on to be the super domestic rider and helper of Remco who I had on the podcast here earlier this morning. And we all know that Remco will be targeting the Tour, he will not do the Giro. Have you already seen some of the stages or looked on the map on some of the stages?

MIKEL LANDA
I have a look at the Tour a little bit. I think this year was important to race more at the beginning with Remco to know each one and then be a perfect tandem during the Tour.

SOREN JENSEN
So you would then be also following a little bit, maybe for the spring then go in altitude training with him in preparation for...

MIKEL LANDA
I think it's important to spend time together because we cannot make mistakes during the Tour. And yeah, here on cycling, the time goes fast. So before we start, better.

SOREN JENSEN
Yeah, that's right. And then afterwards, then coming into the Vuelta, I mean, the biggest race in Spain and with your home crowd and everything, that's also going to be very exciting. And the Vuelta has always been known for its very epic climbs. So how do you deal with hot weather? Because that's also part of the La Vuelta, you know, with 40 plus degrees, 45 sometimes.

MIKEL LANDA
Maybe I suffer more than others, because there are riders that really like the hot, but in general it's more comfortable than the really bad weather. Even if you are good in bad weather, I think it's easier to keep it, the high temperature.

SOREN JENSEN
You don't have any difficulty racing in hot weather?

MIKEL LANDA
No, not really.

SOREN JENSEN
What about the Worlds? Because the World Championships in Zurich, the men's race especially, is packed with almost 4,400, almost 4,500 meters of elevation. Is that also somewhat a race that you will target or is it lower down in your priority list of the season? Just coming out of the Vuelta.

MIKEL LANDA
I think I'm not really the best rider in one day races. I'm not really focused on the Worlds. I think it's difficult for me, but it's a really hard World Championship this year and I would like to be there.

SOREN JENSEN
Also because if you think about Innsbruck in 2018 with Valverde, I mean, of course there was also one big steep climb there, but there was also some big ones at the Zurich course. So again, yeah, everything can happen. Yeah, yeah, sure. If you play, you can win. You can be there not doing anything special. So let's talk about climbing, climbing training. And there are many good climbers in the sport, but there are only a few great climbers like yourself, those capable to climb all the mountains over a three-week Grand Tour without losing much time to rivals and be able to produce a long winning goal on the toughest slope deep into the race. And also meaning that you can keep consistent also the same numbers that you have in week one in the last week of the race. And I think also that's one of the reasons why Remco wants you by his side for the Tour. What do you think, what makes a great climber? What are the skills of a good climber? You have to look at yourself.

MIKEL LANDA
I think first of all, genetic. I think every rider, we are different. Some of us are climbers, other sprinters. I think each of us, we are different. But yeah, if you have one big part from genetics, and other important things, you need to love the mountains, no? You need to love, like you need to be passionate to climb, to see one mountain and see, and I think yourself, no, I want to be, I want to arrive to the top. I want to cross this mountain. And then you need to be lighter, you need to be smooth on the bike, trying to be consistent during the climb and not to go too deep at the beginning. Wasting too much energy. And have consistent power numbers I think also. More than power, I think it's more about heart rate, no, just to keep, because if you do climbs of half an hour or an hour, I think it's more important focusing in your heart rate and your possibilities, your feelings, to arrive to the top.

SOREN JENSEN
Yeah, as fresh as you can be. And that also comes into play with the power to weight because I know also for the 2015 Giro, you had to lose a bit of weight to get in lean and get in shape. Is that difficult for you to keep that race weight for a Grand Tour? It's difficult to get to that point, you know, to your perfect weight. What is your perfect race, Grand Tour race weight?

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, around 60, 61.

SOREN JENSEN
And in the off-season, how high would you usually go?

MIKEL LANDA
I go quite high, 66, 67.

SOREN JENSEN
Is it difficult for you to lose those kilos then after?

MIKEL LANDA
Every year is more difficult.

SOREN JENSEN
It's the only you get, I think it's normal.

MIKEL LANDA
It's easy to gain, but difficult to lose. But then, once I focus on the season I start losing.

SOREN JENSEN
What's your favorite training session for climbing? We have to give a few tips here to all the cycling fans out there.

MIKEL LANDA
I like to start, I leave from my house, I do a small loop of around one hour, one hour and a half, more or less flat, to warm up a little bit. And then I have two climbs very close between them and close to my house. One is Orduna, is a eight kilometers climb, 8%. And then I have another one, five kilometers, 6%, Barrerilla. So yeah, I do once each one, stop for a coffee, then once again, one or two, let's say, and then home.

SOREN JENSEN
How long does it take to do one climb, like the eight kilometer?

MIKEL LANDA
One of them is 25 minutes and the other one is 15 minutes. I like that training. Close to home, very nice.

SOREN JENSEN
And you've been doing that since you started, even in your early days riding amateur. Yeah, so you know them, but are you in Strava?

MIKEL LANDA
Actually no.

SOREN JENSEN
So you don't really know who has the KOM there, but I'm pretty sure that if you…

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, exactly.

SOREN JENSEN
This is your home territory. That's nice. So would you then do specific... I assume you do specific training efforts there, like in the intervals. Maybe you would do some FTP, you would go above that, you do small accelerations, how would your program of the day look like when you hit those two mountains?

MIKEL LANDA
Now at the beginning of the season, I like a lot doing torque exercises with low cadence, playing with that.

SOREN JENSEN
So 50, 60 RPMs or, okay.

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think I feel more, I have more resistance. And then when the competition arrives, I used to do more 40-20 and pressure, those kind of exercises.

SOREN JENSEN
Have you seen, experienced your FTP drop as you're getting older or is it more or less always within the same range?

MIKEL LANDA
I think it is more or less the same or even better, no? I think we improve a lot on training, nutrition and maybe it's gone a little bit better.

SOREN JENSEN
That's good. That's very motivating.

MIKEL LANDA
Yes, it's motivating. It's motivating because you see that you improve, but also the young guys. Yeah, they also improve a lot.

SOREN JENSEN
I mean, that's something that's completely new. You know, you're right. Yeah. Well, cycling is changing, but you're still up there with the best. I mean, look at your result at La Vuelta last year. That was fantastic riding by you. And signing also two years for the team here for Soudal, it just shows your commitment and your love for the sport, your commitment always to go beyond. So also your personal limits, that's good to see. When you go to do your efforts, everything is pretty much dialed in, I assume. So maybe you go alone or do you also go on group rides? What do you prefer?

MIKEL LANDA
I ride most of the days with someone, maybe not full day, but most part of the day. I train with other people. Most of them are not pro cyclists. They are just cyclotourist or friends. Because when I have those two climbs we spoke before, we also have like a zero, no, a lap. We have a loop of, I don't know, five kilometers. We are there doing laps and I say, well, okay, I go up and they weigh me down. So when I come back down, I enjoy the group. Then I say, I'm going to do another interval. I go up, we stop together for a fast coffee. So yeah, that helps a lot.

SOREN JENSEN
I think that's probably also why you keep doing what you're doing, because you got the whole support from the local crowd and your family when you're home. And when you go to races, you're super concentrated and you're in the zone and I think that's important to balance out a life on the road, basically for a pro cyclist. So I think it's a very clever way of living and staying in contact with your friends. During training, of course you use the power meet and you follow it. But you also said earlier, just like Pantani, he always said that he could not race with an SRM. He would always move on his instinct and how he would felt with the body because it's only the body that can tell. But I know that cycling has changed a lot over the last 20 years. But you use, of course, a power meter, but you also use the power meter in racing. You look at your power meter during a race when you sit up there in the front and pull on a climb?

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, I look, I look, I think I cannot say no because I grew up with a power meter. Yeah, so I think it's very helpful, no, to not go too deep. Yeah, and maybe take off a little bit of emotion on the races, but it is what it is, yeah.

SOREN JENSEN
But sometimes you do feel maybe you have a little bit more, maybe your numbers are different. What would you do in such a situation? Would you just give that little bit extra because you have that personal feeling?

MIKEL LANDA
Yeah, yeah. And we are not robots. Not all the days are the same. You cannot hold the same power every day because maybe you didn't sleep well, you didn't eat properly, or you are tired, whatever. So yeah, it's an advantage to know a little bit where you are, how much you are pushing, but we are humans.

SOREN JENSEN
Mikel, thank you so much for joining us. I know you've got another appointment here in a few minutes. It was great to have you on. And actually I'm looking forward, if you're up for it, to have another interview later during the season. But it was definitely great to see you again. Thank you so much. And yeah, good luck for the season. And again, if you have any questions that are Castelli related or ideas and stuff, just reach out to us through emails, WhatsApp, phone calls. We're always open for on the fly changes and improvements, and how to make our clothing better. So, that’s good. Thank you Mikel.

MIKEL LANDA
Thanks to you.

SOREN JENSEN
And that's the wrap of this week's episode. Stay tuned for another thrilling episode coming your way next week featuring Ilse Pluimers of the AG Insurance Women's Team. Ilse is a young and highly talented athlete who excels in both cyclocross and road cycling. With the Cyclocross World taking place in Tabor next week, we thought it would be a great time to talk about cyclocross and to get a little bit of education on the sport so we know what we are watching when we are sitting back and enjoying the world on television. so we know what we are watching when we are sitting back and enjoying the world on television. So stay tuned for this episode dropping on Tuesday. Until then, take care and ride safe.