Mikel Landa ramps up preparation for Vuelta a Espana - Veteran leads Soudal-Quickstep's Czech Tour line-up ahead of final Grand Tour of the year
CyclingWednesday, 12 August 2026 at 17:00
Mikel Landa will lead Soudal-Quickstep's Czech Tour line-up as he prepares to take on the Vuelta a Espana. Confirming that the Spanish rider will headline their La Vuelta line-up.
The Euskaltel - Euskadi- bound rider joins Gil Gelders, Pepijn Reinderink, Martin Svrcek, Warre Vangheluwe, Mauri Vansevenant and Gauthier Servranckx as the team target both stages and the overall classification from August 13th to 16th.
In an injury-plagued season, the experienced Basque rider is building towards the Grand Tour. He finished last week's Vuelta a Burgos after a quiet week on the road, the first stage race he completed since Volta a Catalunya.
“We head to the Czech Tour with a balanced team built around the race’s much tougher parcours, favoring the climbers," Soudal sports director Kevin Hulsmans said.
Landa to fight for stage wins and general classification
"Our leader is Mikel, who continues his comeback from injury as he builds towards La Vuelta. Together with Mauri and Gianmarco, we have three riders capable of fighting for stage wins on the climbs and also go for a strong general classification.”
It comes after the 36-year-old was confirmed as the latest signing of Euskaltel-Euskadi last week. Re-joining the structure he started his WorldTour career with back in 2011, Landa signed a two-year contract as he looks to ride into the sunset in touch with his roots.
“For me, being part of Euskaltel-Euskadi again, pulling on the orange jersey once more and reconnecting with the Fundación means closing a cycle. I became a professional thanks to this structure, and returning here in my mature years is truly significant on a personal level.”
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel-Euskadi transfer
He added: “I arrive hugely motivated and eager to contribute to the sporting project. I feel I still have the strength and experience to achieve big results and make the fans enjoy themselves.”
The new Euskaltel-Euskadi leader also sent a direct message to the fans, promising to give his best over the coming seasons.
“In the coming years I’ll perform at the highest level to give this team what it deserves: making Euskaltel’s ‘Orange Tide’ roar again and helping Basque fans reconnect with their reference riders and team, enjoying the road together.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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