OFFICIAL: Mikel Landa sign with Euskaltel - Euskadi until 2028 - "Truly significant on a personal level"
CyclingSaturday, 01 August 2026 at 10:36
Basque cycling regains one of its most iconic images. Euskaltel - Euskadi has officially announced the return of Mikel Landa, who will race in orange during the 2027 and 2028 seasons. The Basque rider thus returns to the team where he turned professional to become the figurehead of a more ambitious project.
The signing is one of the standout moves in the cycling market looking ahead to 2027, having been first reported on weeks ago. Not only for the level the Basque climber can still deliver, but also for the powerful emotional pull of an operation that brings home the leading figure of Basque cycling over the past decade.
A return to his roots
Landa’s career is closely tied to the Fundación Euskadi. The climber began with the Orbea team in 2009 and 2010 before stepping up to Euskaltel-Euskadi, where he raced from 2011 to 2013. Those performances opened the door to the WorldTour and launched a successful career at the top level.
After leaving the Basque structure, Landa built a palmarès matched by very few Spanish riders of his generation. He finished third at the Giro d’Italia twice (2015 and 2022), and took fourth in 2019. At the Tour de France he came close to the podium with two fourth places (2017 and 2020), adding fifth in 2024, sixth in 2019, and seventh in 2018. At the Vuelta a España he also delivered, notably with fifth overall in 2023.
Now, with a contract for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, the Basque rider will pull on the orange jersey again to become the standard-bearer of the new sporting project.
More than a sporting transfer
Euskaltel-Euskadi underline that Landa’s arrival goes far beyond performance. His return symbolizes the bond between one of Basque cycling’s greatest icons and the structure that launched his career.
The team also recalls the commitment Landa has always shown to the Fundación Euskadi. In 2017, he took an active role in bringing the team back to its professional ranks - first as a continental project, which has since moved back up to ProTeam level.
In 2025 Euskaltel wasn't selected to any Grand Tour and currently it isn't part of the Top30 in the UCI rankings, meaning it might not have the possibility of racing one in 2027 either. But with Landa's presence next year, in 2028 this could happen to be the case.
That emotional bond makes his return a move full of symbolism, closing a circle that always seemed destined to be completed one day.
Mikel Landa has led Quick-Step, but could soon return to Euskaltel - Euskadi
Leader of the ‘Orange Tide’
With this signing, Euskaltel-Euskadi hopes the fans will rally again around a leader capable of inspiring in major races. The so-called ‘Orange Tide’ thus recovers one of its great idols, a rider who has sparked a following throughout his career popularly known as ‘Landismo’.
That movement has made Landa one of the most beloved riders in the international peloton thanks to his attacking mindset, his always-offensive racing style, and his connection with the fans.
In an era shaped by technology, strategy, and tight control of races, Landa still represents a cycling built on bravery, emotion, and territorial identity, values with which Euskaltel-Euskadi aims to strengthen its project in the coming years.
He explained that going back to the structure where he turned professional carries enormous weight both personally and athletically.
“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.”
Despite years of experience at the top level, Landa made it clear his ambition to fight for major results remains intact.
“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.”
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A commitment to Euskaltel
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.”
With these words, Landa underlines that his return is not only a sporting decision, but also a desire to reignite the excitement of a fanbase that never stopped seeing him as one of its great idols.
Mikel Landa at the 2025 Vuelta a España
Euskaltel hails the return of its leading figure
Euskaltel also showed its enthusiasm for the Murgia native’s comeback. Company president Luz Usamentiaga highlighted the pride in welcoming back one of the most important riders to emerge from Fundación Euskadi.
“It’s a huge satisfaction for Euskaltel to welcome a rider like Mikel Landa and open the doors again to what was his home. At Euskaltel-Euskadi he forged himself into the great rider he is, and this new season we can’t wait to see him enjoy himself again and wear the orange jersey with the enthusiasm and responsibility that define him.”
Usamentiaga also praised the Álava rider’s career and the role he will play as leader and reference point for the team’s new generations. “After a career full of successes, it will be an honour to see how he supports and encourages his teammates, and how he puts the golden seal on a trajectory that has helped put Basque cycling on the international map.”
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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