First flap, then shake, slap and flap again: At the end of Stage 2 of Volta a Catalunya for a long time of 2 minutes, Mikel Landa had only 1 priority - to warm his hands again.

On the way to a great 2000th place at Vallter2summit behind tadej Pogañar, Landa could be seen shaking as he plowed through ice-cold rain and temperatures close to freezing.And when he pedaled to regain their normal temperature, and at the finish the team's helpers had him a jacket, a drink, some race gloves, a scarf and a hat.

But the warm gloves were somehow missing from the mix, and it was only when the journalist waiting for the quote took off his own heat pair in honor and gave them to the Basque Landa finally stopped flapping his hands.

"It's been a long time since my hands got so cold," Landa later told journalists. But if Poganyal's performance followed his favorite status before the race, with the veteran Basque riding second at 1:24 behind Slovenia, Landa said, it was something he didn't expect at all, even if last year he was fourth in Catalonia at the same summit finish. Even if you were taking to.

"I'm happy; I haven't raced in a while, so I came here with no expectation at all," Landa, whose previous race was Volta ao Algarve, told reporters. "This definitely got better than I wanted."

He could now start dreaming of the best results, especially after finishing 5th overall last year. I want to do well here," he commented.

"Tomorrow is the stage where there will be more climbing" - about 4,000 meters on the way to Port Eine, compared to Stage 2 "only 3,400" - "And I like it."

Landa looked delighted to hear that the next day's stage, in any case, will feature much warmer weather than Stage 2. "It's been a long time since I got so cold, especially in my hands," he said.

As to whether it was possible for Poganyar to be defeated after such a strong mountain performance, or if he could now ride on the podium next Sunday in Barcelona

"It would be so good, but for now, I'm not going to take it on that day." It's a good idea."

" has already won it."When asked again if Poganyal was impregnable, he repeated, "I don't know about it. But he is a big favorite and the wind is blowing in his favor because he has gotten some time."

For Landa, in any case, despite the weather and opposition, his strong performance should be deeply encouraging after his switch from Bahrain to victory over Soudal-QuickStep, whose main mission is to work for Lemco Evenepoel. 

But if Landa had already looked good on the climb at Volta ao Algarve - of course, Evenepoel won - especially on Stage 2's longer climb to Alto de Foia, in the Pyrenees and once again, Landa stepped up to the plate in style.