Mikel Landa going to the Tour de France to 'work and learn'

Mikel Landa says he will put aside his general classification hopes to work hard for Chris Froome at the Tour de France, as the Spaniard makes his debut in the race.

The former Astana rider abandoned the Giro d'Italia in May through illness but returned to help Froome to Critérium du Dauphiné glory in June.

Landa will join the likes of Geraint Thomas, Wout Poels, Mikel Nieve and Sergio Henao has Froome's main supporters in the mountains and the 26-year old hopes to learn from the two-time winner over the course of the three weeks.

"We have a leader who has the experience of having won two Tours and a great team at our service," he told AS. "I will get to know the Tour, learn how to work.

"The goal is not to make the general classification a priority, but do not rule it out if I do not lose time in the first week. I go to the Tour to help and to learn."

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Having left the Giro early, Landa said it was mentally difficult to readjust his season's schedule to include the Dauphiné and Tour de France.

He finished 12th in the Dauphiné after strong performances in the mountain stages as he worked to push Froome to the overall victory.

"Froome is someone very accessible and very sure of his abilities," Landa continued. "That gives tranquility to the team.

"So I'm going to learn from the best rider in the best race and the best team. My learning is continuous. Winning in Paris would be very nice and would mean that we have done our work and in order. Then we can enjoy [ourselves]."