Yesterday was certainly not the stage finish that Mikel Landa and the entire Soudal Quick-Step team expected to experience. The Basque rider did cross the finish line in Cuevas de Mendukilo, but he did so in 67th position, 13'11" behind Paul Seixas, and most importantly, with visible bruises and abrasions that he would certainly have done without.

What caused them, contrary to what appeared in live coverage, was an unreal incident that occurred about ten kilometers from the finish when, on the descent from the GPM of San Miguel de Aralar, the medical car following the first chasers of the Frenchman from Decathlon CMA CGM launched into a risky overtaking maneuver, ultimately triggering the bewildering crash of the veteran from Murgia.

"The doctor's car forced Landa off the road on what was a narrow and fast descent and we didn't even receive an apology" were the words released by a furious Jurgen Foré to Het Nieuwsblad after the stage. "He was just ten seconds from the lead group, why would a medical car ever overtake riders in that situation? It's incomprehensible" continued the head of the Belgian team, expressing his complete disbelief about an incident that could have been absolutely avoided.

"We do everything for safety, and then things like this happen. As a team, there's nothing left for you to do, but you still pay the consequences".

Fortunately, the tests to which Landa submitted himself after the incident came back negative, showing no fractures of any kind. Mikel was able to rest peacefully, but the rider and his team's medical staff decided that the best course of action was his withdrawal from the race to allow him to recover completely.

The medical car driver responsible for the mishap, Santiago Blanco, will also no longer be in the race, as the organizers of the Basque stage race decided to expel him from the event, toughening the initial measure (yellow card and 500 Swiss francs fine) that had been taken against him.

Such a measure can only represent, however, a partial consolation for Soudal Quick-Step, which would certainly have preferred not to see its designated leader for the upcoming Giro d'Italia end up on the ground again. Landa (on the podium at the Corsa Rosa in 2015 and 2022) had specifically chosen to include the Itzulia Basque Country in his calendar to test his legs and understand where he stood less than a month before the start in Nessebar.