Mikel Landa to make Movistar debut at Mallorca Challenge

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Mikel Landa waves while wearing the new Movistar kit(Image credit: Team Movistar)

Mikel Landa will make his debut in Movistar blue at the four-day Mallorca Challenge this week, organisers have confirmed. Landa had been due to debut at the Ruta del Sol and the appearance will be his first in Mallorca since he went there during his first season at Astana in 2014.

Landa was Movistar’s star signing over the winter months, joining the Spanish squad after two seasons with Team Sky. The 28-year-old joined the team with the intention of getting more opportunities as a Grand Tour challenger. However, he is likely going to have to share such responsibility with both Valverde and Quintana at the Tour de France, and perhaps the Vuelta a España, later this season.

Landa and his Movistar teammates have been attending a training camp in Mallorca in recent days, staying at the Rafael Nadal Sports Centre, which is sponsored by Movistar. The team is sporting a strong and relatively experienced line-up in Mallorca, with Jose Joaquin Rojas, Daniele Bennati, Imanol Erviti and Andre Amador among the nine named. Younger riders Jorge Arcas and Hector Carretero are also set to race, while Jaime Roson joins Landa in making his team debut.

The Mallorca Challenge begins on January 25 with the Trofeo Campos-Ses Salines, which is an opportunity for the sprinters. While wrapped up in one series, riders do not have to compete in every race over the four days. Landa is likely to make his first showing at the hillier 140km Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana on Friday, January 26. The following day’s Trofeo Lloseta-Andratx is another shot for the climbers before the sprinters return for the Trofeo Playa de Palma-Palma on Sunday.