A blow for Spanish fans; Mikel Landa and Cristián Rodriguez set to miss the 2026 Tour de France

Soudal Quick-Step will not be taking Mikel Landa to the 2026 Tour de France. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Landa, in the past a top general classification contender, has been passed over by the Belgian team,

The 36-year-old Landa had the Giro d'Italia on his calendar for 2026, but due to a crash in the Tour of the Basque Country, he has had to cross it off his list. The Tour de France was his next goal, but that race has also been canceled. The last time Landa started the Tour de France, in 2024, he finished 5th. His absence from the 2026 Tour is a loss for the race.

Landa returned to the Tour de Suisse in June but withdrew early. He was clearly not yet in good form, so he will not be joining Soudal Quick-Step at the Tour de France. It’s unclear what Landa’s next goals are, but the Vuelta a España will likely be on his radar in August.

With Landa out leadership will likely fall to Valentin Paret-Peintre. When Paret-Peintre spoke to IDL Pro Cycling a few weeks ago, he had dreams of stage wins a free role at the Tour de France. A leadership role for Soudal Quick-Step may severely hamper those dreams.

In other leadership news, Cristián Rodriguez will not be part of XDS Astana’s Tour de France roster in July. The Kazakh cycling team does not need the 31-year-old Spaniard, and according to Marca, this is entirely due to his transfer at the end of this season.

Rodriguez made a name for himself in 2025 by finishing in the top 20 of the Tour de France while riding for the small Arkéa-B&B Hotels team. He also won the Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes, thereby securing a transfer to XDS Astana. He signed a one-season contract with Alexandre Vinokourov’s team.

It was a risky move by the team, as Rodriguez took the next step with Astana. In the Tour of Oman, he finished second behind teammate Christian Scaroni, and leading up to the Tour de France, he impressed by finishing eighth in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

According to Marca, it is already known that Rodriguez and Astana will part ways after 2026. His next destination has not yet been announced, but this means the Tour de France will pass the Spaniard by.

Later this year, Rodriguez is expected to ride the Vuelta a España for his current team before leaving at the end of the season. Reportedly, there are many interested parties.