Giro d'Italia 2025: Mikel Landa ruled out of Grand Tour after fracturing vertebra in opening stage crash
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By Tom Cantoni
Updated 09/05/2025 at 19:59 GMT+1
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Mikel Landa is out of the Giro d'Italia following a disastrous crash on the first day. The Spaniard, 35, fell on the descent with just over five kilometres to go. His Soudal Quick-Step team have confirmed he suffered a fractured vertebra. Mads Pederson (Lidl-Trek) clinched the first pink jersey, pipping Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) to the Stage 1 finish line in Albania.
Pedersen pips Van Aert in sprint to win opening stage of 2025 Giro
Video credit: TNT Sports
Outside favourite Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) is out of the Giro d’Italia after a devastating crash on Stage 1 in Albania left him with a fractured vertebra.
The veteran Spaniard came off his bike on the descent following the final climb with just over five kilometres to go.
He appeared to be in considerable pain as he lay on the pavement before being taken into an ambulance on a stretcher.
Jay Vine (UAE Emirates-XRG) was also caught up, but managed to continue the race.
Later on Friday, Soudal Quick-Step gave an update on Landa's condition and confirmed the rider had suffered a fractured vertebra.
"Mikel Landa abandoned the first Grand Tour of the year after a crash on the opening stage," the statement read.
"The Basque climber, who was present at the Giro d’Italia for the eighth time in his career, hit the ground in a corner with five kilometres to go, as the peloton was heading to Tirana, where the stage was supposed to conclude.
"Mikel was immediately taken to the hospital, where examinations and a CT scan revealed that Mikel had suffered a stable fracture of the vertebra. This will require Mikel to remain in a stable lying position for an extended period of time.
"He will remain at the hospital overnight, before further assessment and a plan for this return home will be made.
"Everybody at Soudal Quick-Step and the Wolfpack wishes Mikel a speedy recovery."
Mads Pederson (Lidl-Trek) took the first pink jersey of the tour, pipping Belgian Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) in an exhilarating photo finish.
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"To win the stage and go in the pink jersey is absolutely amazing — especially after teamwork like this," he said.
"It’s really incredible that the team works this hard and I can pay it back like this. You can see it on TV. That was the exact plan — to push really hard on the climb, make it a smaller group, then a sprint.
"You always have to be afraid of Wout. He’s a really, really good bike rider, and it’s not a given to win when he’s in the group.Â
"You have to handle that with respect and a bit of fear as well. But today I had the legs to finish it off for the team. It’s the first leader’s jersey I have from a Grand Tour, so that’s nice."
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'Pure class' - Pedersen hails 'amazing' teammates after Stage 1 win
Video credit: TNT Sports
Stage 1 result — Top 10
1. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
2. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)
3. Orluis Aular (Movistar)
4. Francesco Busatto (Intermarche-Wanty)
5. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling)
6. Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana)
7. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
8. Max Poole (Picnic PostNL)
9. Nicola Conci (XDS Astana)
10. Davide Piganzoli (Polti VisitMalta)
2. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)
3. Orluis Aular (Movistar)
4. Francesco Busatto (Intermarche-Wanty)
5. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling)
6. Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana)
7. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
8. Max Poole (Picnic PostNL)
9. Nicola Conci (XDS Astana)
10. Davide Piganzoli (Polti VisitMalta)
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Van Aert: A pity to finish second but better than I expected
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Giro d'Italia is the first Grand Tour of the season, taking place over three gruelling weeks before the finale in Rome.
Action gets back underway on Saturday, May 10, with Stage 2 - a 13.7km individual time trial in Tirana, the capital of Albania.
The first three stages of this year’s Giro are in the Balkan country, before Stage 4 begins in the Italian town of Alberobello on Tuesday, May 13.
Every stage of the Giro d'Italia will be available on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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