Landa going to Worlds

Impressive 21-year-old Mikel Landa has as anticipated been chosen to represent Spain at the upcoming World Championships in Melbourne. The youngster has enjoyed a breakout campaign with Orbea, recently confirming his burgeoning talent by taking fifth overall at l'Avenir. Fellow Orbea rider Jon Izagirre missed out on selection, as Jesús Herrada, Higinio Fernández and Juan José Lobato took the last three places. No doubt a strong quartet, but I must say I'm at a loss to figure out why José Luis de Santos has almost exclusively opted for climbers. The Worlds are not held in Colombia, it's in Melbourne. Flat Melbourne. Herrada, Landa and Fernández are all excellent prospects, but they all excell when the road tilts upwards. Lobato is more of an all-rounder, so he should thrive. But I suspect de Santos might be left to rue the omission of strong rouleur Izagirre and David De la Cruz of Caja Rural to name two riders more adept to the flat and rolling roads of Geelong.