Soudal Quick-Step's Vuelta a España line-up - Mikel Landa set for tenth appearance as Valentin Paret-Peintre also leads ambitions
Cycling
Mikel Landa will start his tenth Vuelta a España this Saturday as the Basque rider has been confirmed to lead the Soudal Quick-Step line-up for the year's final Grand Tour. With Landa fronting their general classification challenge, Valentin Paret-Peintre and Filippo Zana also offer threats for stage wins.
Finishing in Granada in 2026, La Vuelta offers a climbing-heavy parcours suited to Landa, while Steff Cras, Alberto Dainese, Gianmarco Garofoli, British time trial champion Ethan Hayter, and Fabio Van den Bossche, also feature in the squad.
With Dainese offering an option for the team in versatile and bunch sprints, the Belgian team hopes that their versatility can see them challenge on practically every stage. Zana and Paret-Peintre's role will likely see them work for Landa in general classification days while also sporting the credentials to go for glory themselves in medium and high mountains.
“We can be in the mix on almost all terrains and that gives us a lot of confidence," sports director Sep Vanmarcke said on the team's website.
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Quick-Step aim for stage wins and GC
"With Alberto, we aim to be protagonists in the bunch sprints, while for the many climbs that are on the menu we have a number for riders who can do well, go on the offensive and try to get a good result.”
Landa is elaving the team this winter after three seasons that included some impressive highs but marred by injury setbacks, particularly this season. However, with tailored preparation for this race, the team hope he can deliver as they expressed their confidence in the announced squad.
“Mikel brings in a lot of experience and comes with a lot of motivation to show himself, but also Valentin can produce something special, especially after his strong Tour de France.
"It’s a solid squad that we’re taking to La Vuelta and we hope to show that over the next three weeks of this incredibly tough race.”
A team statement added: "The route gives plenty of opportunities to all types of riders, but especially to the climbers, with a total of seven summit finishes on the menu that are sure to create significant gaps between the general classification contenders: Font-Romeu, Aramon Valdelinares, Alto de Aitana, Calar Alto, Sierra de la Pandera, Peñas Blancas, and Collado del Alguacil."
Valentin Paret-Peintre
Soudal-QuickStep at La Vuelta
| Riders |
| Mikel Landa |
| Valentin Paret-Peintre |
| Ethan Vernon |
| Steff Cras |
| Alberto Dainese |
| Gianmarco Garofoli |
| Fabio Van den Bossche |
| Filippo Zana |
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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