CONFIRMED: Mikel Landa is back to racing and 2025 La Vuelta may still be in Basque climber's plans

After Juan Ayuso's confirmed presence for the Vuelta a España, more good news have come in the way of Spanish cycling. It was feared that Mikel Landa's season had been over after a brutal crash suffered on the first day of the Giro d'Italia, but three months later the Basque climber is back to competition at the Vuelta a Burgos.

Landa is a rider that is no stranger to meaningful injuries, but even as recently as 2024 - where he suffered a fractured collarbone and ribs less than three months before a Tour de France where he displayed his best-ever level - he has made successful comebacks from them. In 2025 unfortunately he's been put in a similar situation, having fell on the final descent of stage 1 of the Corsa Rosa, overcooking a corner and falling into a lowered sidewalk.

The initial images were nerve-wrecking with it being obvious that the veteran would abandon the race. It was later confirmed that he had suffered fractured vertebrae. It was speculated that his season might have been over as he would need a long recovery period and to "remain in a stable lying position for an extended period of time". But after getting back on the bike a few weeks later, he has managed to restart training slowly and will be headlining Soudal - Quick-Step at the upcoming Vuelta a Burgos.

The five-day race is often used as preparation for the Vuelta a España. Even if the climber is far from his best level, a successful return to competition would likely mean a guaranteed spot at La Vuelta as Remco Evenepoel and Tim Merlier will not be racing the final Grand Tour of the season, and Landa could at the very least be a stage hunter for the Belgian team.

“I’m a little bit nervous, as it’s been a long time since my last race," Landa said in a press release issued by the team. "I am happy to pin on a number again, but at the same time, I don’t know what to expect because it’s my first race in three months and the injury I had was a difficult one. It will be an important test to see if I can ease back to racing. The plan is to just take it day by day and enjoy the race without any expectations”.

Soudal - Quick-Step for Vuelta a Burgos:
Mikel Landa
Gianmarco Garofoli
Antoine Huby
James Knox
Luke Lamperti
Peiter Serry
Louis Vervaeke