Mikel Landa leaves Soudal-QuickStep to rejoin Euskaltel-Euskadi on a two-year deal

Mikel Landa is going home. The 36-year-old Basque climber has signed a two-year contract with Euskaltel-Euskadi, the team where he turned professional in 2011, keeping him in the orange jersey until at least the end of 2028. The move was made official on Saturday 1 August.

Landa began his career with the Basque outfit between 2011 and 2013, before the original team folded at the end of that season. The squad was reborn in 2020 as a professional team under its original sponsors, and now welcomes back its most celebrated rider following spells with Astana, Team Sky, Movistar, Bahrain Victorious and finally Soudal-QuickStep.

"For me, rejoining Euskaltel-Euskadi, pulling on the orange jersey again, and reconnecting with [Fundación Euskadi] means coming full circle," Landa said in the press release announcing his transfer. "In the coming years, I will give my absolute best to repay the team as it deserves."

The return is a statement signing for the ProTeam, which has also landed cyclocross star Felipe Orts for the 2027 campaign alongside riders from its development system. "In sporting terms, having Mikel Landa on the team takes us to a new level," said Jorge Azana, sport director at Euskaltel-Euskadi.

Landa's career highlights include two top-five overall finishes at the Tour de France, two podium places at the Giro d'Italia with three stage wins, and a stage victory at the Vuelta a España in 2015. Long regarded as a fan favourite for his attacking style and underestimated abilities, he inspired the 'Free Landa' movement whenever he appeared capable of outriding his more favoured team leaders.

Now the veteran returns to where it all began, becoming the reference point of a young and ambitious project ready to grow around its most experienced leader.

Sources

• Cyclingnews