Landa overcomes lack of expectations to track Pogacar at Volta a Catalunya

Mikel Landa second on stage 2 at Volta a Catalunya.

First flap, then shake, slap, then flap again: for two long minutes at the finish of stage 2 of the Volta a Catalunya, Mikel Landa had only one priority  - getting his hands warm again.

When ploughing through the ice-cold rain and near-freezing temperature en route to a fine second place at Vallter 2000 summit behind Tadej Pogačar, Landa could be seen shaking and all but slapping his bare hands as he pedalled in an attempt to regain their normal temperature and at the finish team helpers plied him with jackets, drinks, some race gloves, a scarf and hat as well.