The Soudal Quick-Step rider was in the group of lead riders on the day\u2019s final climb but had a high speed fall on the descent, just over 5km from the finish.<\/p>\n
He came down on a sweeping left hand bend, running off the road and dropping down approximately a meter onto a footpath. Landa was left lying almost motionless on his right side, and appeared unable to stand up.<\/p>\n
He was swiftly attended by spectators and officials, and subsequently was strapped to a stretcher and brought to hospital by ambulance.<\/p>\n
The accident is a sad end to a very short Giro campaign. He was later diagnosed with a fracture in his back.<\/p>\n
\u201cExaminations and a CT scan revealed that Mikel had suffered a stable fracture of the Th 11 vertebra,\u201d his team said in a media note. \u201cThis will require Mikel to remain in a stable lying position for an extended period of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will remain at the hospital overnight, before further assessment and a plan for this return home will be made.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Wednesday the team announced a one year contract extension for the 35-year-old Spaniard. He joined the setup in 2024 and last year helped Remco Evenepoel to third overall in his first Tour de France.<\/p>\n
A major goal prior to race start
\n![\"TIRANA,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2214245834.jpg\")
Landa in action prior to his crash on Friday (Photo: Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Landa is a three-time stage winner in the Giro d\u2019Italia and won the king of the mountains title in 2017.<\/p>\n
He said on Wednesday that he was aiming for a big result in this year\u2019s race.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking ahead, I would like to be on the podium of the Giro d\u2019Italia,\u201d he stated. \u201cThat\u2019s my dream and I will fight for it!<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been three years since my previous Giro presence and I\u2019m excited to be going there again. I have a love-hate relationship with the race, with many beautiful moments and also some difficult ones, but this doesn\u2019t stop me from dreaming that I can do something nice there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sadly his latest experience of the race is a very negative one. Velo hopes that he is not too badly hurt and that he can return to training in time for the Tour de France.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday he also named that race as a key objective, albeit in a supporting role.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the Giro, I will then go with a lot of motivation to the Tour, hoping that my experience and effort can help Remco be again on the podium,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\n#ForzaMikel<\/a><\/p>\n
Our rider has been taken to the hospital for investigations after the crash that put an end to his dreams at the #GirodItalia<\/a>. https:\/\/t.co\/7cgFC8xsH7<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
A tough day for other GC riders<\/p>\n
Landa was the worst affected of the general classification contenders but others also ended the day on an unhappy note. Derek Gee<\/a> (Israel Premier Tech) and Thymen Arensman<\/a> (Ineos Grenadiers) were both dropped on the final climb, going out the back 9.5 and 12km respectively from the stage end.<\/p>\n
Gee was second on four stages in the 2023 Giro and was third on stage 9 of last year\u2019s Tour. He had high hopes of a big result in the Giro, having won O Gran Cami\u00f1o earlier this year and taken third overall in the recent Tour of the Alps.<\/p>\n
Arensman, too, had designs on a big performance in the race. He was sixth overall last year and third in the stage 14 time trial. He finished second behind Gee in the recent Tour of the Alps, winning stage 4, but was also out of sorts on Friday.<\/p>\n
Gee lost 57 seconds while Arensman gave up 1:35.<\/p>\n
It was a frustrating day too for Dani Martinez<\/a> and Jay Vine<\/a>. Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe\u2019s Martinez was runner up last year to Tadej Poga\u010dar but ended up in the Vine group. His main role is backing Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d, though.<\/p>\n
Vine is also playing support, with Juan Ayuso being the designated UAE Team Emirates-XRG team leader. Vine also fell at the same place Landa crashed, and lost 3:53.<\/p>\n
They will be unhappy with how things turned out, but Landa\u2019s fall will give a sense of perspective.<\/p>\n