Mikel Landa taken down by medical car at Itzulia - "We haven't received a single apology"

Mikel Landa is a rider known for the difficult crashes he's experienced throughout his career. This Tuesday, the Basque rider went down hard again at Itzulia Basque Country however after the race it was revealed that he was hit by the medical car on the final descent. Soudal - Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Foré was very angry with the incident.

“The doctor's car simply knocked Mikel Landa off his bike on a narrow and fast descent. And we haven't received a single apology," Foré said in words to Het Nieuwsblad after the end of stage 2. The TV broadcast didn't capture footage of the crash, but of Landa on the crash, being attended. The leader of the Belgian team was close to the main chasing group after the climb to San Miguel de Aralar and was in a moment of high tension. Reportedly, the medical car was trying to overtake him however in the technical descent, leading to his crash.

"He was 10 seconds behind the group ahead... What is a doctor supposed to do then to catch up with riders? It is sometimes infuriating! We do everything for safety and then you get things like this," Foré argued. "As a team, you are left with nothing, but you do take the hits. Mikel has gone to the hospital; hopefully, he doesn't have any fractures.”

It was a surprise to see Landa finish the stage in Cuevas de Mendukilo but his overall classification ambitions have ended and it is not certain whether he will continue the race. Ultimately, he had previously talked about racing all three Grand Tours this season, and it does not seem like that plan would be put in jeopardy after this fall.

The driver of the medical car in question has been identified and expelled from the race following the incident.