Mikel Landa Withdraws from Tour of the Basque Country Following Collision With Medical Car
The Tour of the Basque Country has been hit by a wave of controversy and frustration after Soudal Quick-Step climber Mikel Landa was forced to abandon the race. The Spanish rider’s exit comes not from a typical racing accident, but from a collision with a medical car during the second stage, sparking fury within his team.
Landa, a veteran of the professional peloton, will not start the third stage on Wednesday, April 8. Although medical examinations have fortunately ruled out fractures or permanent damage, the decision to withdraw was made to ensure the 36-year-classic has the necessary time for a full recovery.
A Dramatic Turn on the San Miguel de Aralar
The incident occurred during the finale of the second stage, a day that had seen Landa performing strongly. As the riders tackled the San Miguel de Aralar—the day’s final major climb—Landa was positioned well, riding in the vicinity of top favorites including Primoz Roglic and Isaac Del Toro.
Yet, the momentum shifted violently during the subsequent descent. In a fast and narrow section of the road, Landa was struck by the race doctor’s car. The impact was severe enough that Landa remained on the ground for a significant period, leading onlookers and team staff to fear the worst.
Despite the brutality of the crash, Landa demonstrated remarkable resilience. He managed to remount his bike and push through to the finish line, though the physical toll was evident. He crossed the line in 67th place, finishing more than 13 minutes behind the stage winner, Paul Seixas.
“Infuriating”: Soudal Quick-Step Lashes Out
While Landa showed grit on the road, the mood in the Soudal Quick-Step camp was one of outrage. CEO Jurgen Foré did not mince words when describing the incident, labeling the collision “infuriating.”
Foré highlighted the absurdity of the car’s positioning, noting that Landa was only 10 seconds behind the group in front at the time of the accident. “The doctor’s car just ran Mikel over,” Foré stated. “What should a doctor be doing there? We see infuriating.”
The frustration was compounded by a perceived lack of accountability. Foré claimed that the team received no apologies following the crash, emphasizing the gap between the race’s safety goals and the reality of the event. “We do everything for safety and then these kinds of things happen. As a team, you are left empty-handed, but you still take the hits,” Foré added.
Who is Mikel Landa?
For those following the race globally, Landa is a highly respected figure in road cycling, known specifically as a premier climber. Born in Murgia, Spain, Landa has a career spanning over 15 years, with a breakthrough coming at the 2015 Giro d’Italia where he secured two stage wins and a third-place overall finish.
Throughout his career, Landa has ridden for some of the most prominent teams in the sport, including Astana, Team Sky, Movistar, and Bahrain–McLaren, before joining the UCI WorldTeam Soudal Quick-Step. His palmarès includes the Giro d’Italia mountains classification in 2017 and multiple stage wins across the Giro and the Vuelta a España.
(Note: In professional cycling, the “medical car” or “dokterswagen” is intended to provide rapid assistance to injured riders, but its presence in narrow descents can occasionally create hazardous conditions for the peloton.)
Medical Status and Next Steps
Following the second stage, Landa was transported to a hospital for comprehensive checks. The team confirmed via their official site that the medical results were encouraging, showing no broken bones. This allowed Landa to spend a quiet night recovering before the team finalized the decision to pull him from the remainder of the Tour of the Basque Country.
The focus now shifts to Landa’s rehabilitation and his return to competition. While the immediate physical danger has passed, the incident is likely to fuel ongoing discussions regarding vehicle safety and the protocols for support cars during high-speed descents in professional cycling.
The race continues with the third stage, where the peloton will move forward without one of its most experienced climbers. Updates on Landa’s recovery and any official responses from race organizers are expected in the coming days.
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