“We’re already thinking in orange” - Mikel Landa has new goals in 2027 with Euskaltel Euskadi as Vuelta bid comes to forefront
Cycling
Mikel Landa is starting to prepare for a new season with renewed enthusiasm and his sights set on the future of Euskaltel Euskadi. The rider from Álava, who remains closely involved with the Basque team while still competing in the professional peloton, attended the team presentation at the Antzoki in Amurrio, where he currently lives. He discussed the project’s main goals and expectations for 2027.
The orange-clad team has already begun planning for next season. One of its headline signings is Felipe Orts, who is already racing in the team’s colours during the cyclocross season. The rider from Alicante has made a strong start, winning in Amurrio on Saturday and backing it up with another victory in Orduña on Sunday. Those results have caught Landa’s attention.
The Basque rider also played an important role at the end of the season, joining the team’s trip to Panama to earn UCI points and help secure a place in the world ranking’s top 30. This strategic goal would improve the team’s chances of receiving an invitation to the 2027 Vuelta a España, one of its biggest ambitions.
Speaking to Diario AS at the team presentation, where he was joined by Javier Lekuona, Landa admitted that he was already looking ahead to next season and remained fully committed to the project.
“We’re already thinking orange and hoping next year comes around soon,” said the rider from Álava. He also reflected on the significance of his Vuelta stage win and the development of a young team with room to grow.

Mikel Landa, Spanish cycling star
A Vuelta invitation and the excitement of racing again
Euskaltel Euskadi’s place in the UCI ranking’s top 30 is an important step towards achieving its sporting ambitions. Landa understood the significance of the team’s campaign in Panama, where it reached the goal set for the end of the season.
“It was very important, essential if we are to try to secure an invitation to the Vuelta in the future,” he said. The team must now wait for the organisers’ decision, but Landa makes no secret of his hopes: “I hope we get it. It would be the perfect finishing touch to this plan.”
The rider from Álava is also pleased with the squad the team is putting together. He sees a promising blend of youth and potential, with riders capable of taking a competitive step forward next season. “The team is young and has potential. There are riders who can develop and make their mark next year,” he said, stressing the need to stay competitive throughout the calendar.
Personally, Landa admitted that his stage win at the Vuelta a España meant a great deal to him. After a long spell without a victory, it gave him a significant boost and allowed him to look ahead with greater peace of mind.
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“I needed something like that"
“I needed something like that. It has given me a lot of peace of mind for next year,” he said. He also welcomed the possibility of the 2027 Itzulia including a stage in Vitoria, which would be especially appealing for him and his family: “If it’s in Vitoria, all the better for me.”
Finally, he paid tribute to Ion Izagirre and Pello Bilbao, two teammates and rivals who have announced their retirements. “I’ll miss them. We’ve shared so many kilometres, as teammates and as rivals. We’ve been together our whole lives,” he said.
He also praised Euskaltel Euskadi’s decision to invest in cyclocross with Felipe Orts, convinced that he can earn valuable points in the World Cups and at the World Championships. “He’ll definitely score us some points,” Landa concluded.

Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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- maybe this is something else they can protest in the streets of France.mij04-11-2026
- his Roubaix win was amazing. not to take anything away from him - arguably one of MVDP's wins was at the expense of a WVA flat - but so many things need to line up to get one of these. He had a perfect race with fewer bike issues on an attritional course. And crazy strong as usual. Glad he got this done.mij04-11-2026
- Orts was a super smart signing with the new rules regarding cross and UCI pointsmij04-11-2026
- yeah... you're right...PogiSloFans04-11-2026
- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
- A mindset that reminds me of Tim Declerq. I loved watching that guy just pound away the kilometers, hours at the front, holding an entire breakaway in check on his own. Bjerg seems like a similar guy. Curling, the team sport.RidesHills04-11-2026
- He will be lol, but he can still win on the climbs hahaawp04-11-2026
- I would love to have his inconsistency. How many wins this year? 2 TdF stages, a WC, a Euro championship, San Sebastian, multiple wins early year. Monument podiums. I'd take it. I don't think he has a chance in the TdF, but he is still amazing.mij04-11-2026
- He's not going to win the TdF. Maybe if they make every single stage a TT he could win. But I still believe Tadej would just sharpen his TT skills and win.mij04-11-2026
- You beat me to it. Should he make a full recovery (likely) and go light early in the year. One, two, three. Don't ask me, I don't give a damn. Should he be on a Feel-Like-He's-Fixin'-to-Die High.Yepperoni04-11-2026
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