ANGRY Mikel Landa has taken a passing shot at Team Sky, claiming he sacrificed his chances of a Tour de France podium finish.
The Spaniard, 27, is set to move to pro cycling team Movistar after helping Sky teammate Chris Froome win a fourth yellow jersey in Paris last Sunday.
Landa came fourth overall – one second behind France’s Romain Bardet – but says team orders meant he lost crucial time on the Col d’Izoard summit finish.
There were suggestions earlier in the Tour that Landa had been the Briton’s authority after beating him on the Peyragudes climb.
But he feels team orders cost him 12 seconds, even though he looked strong on the attack in the mountains.
He said: “On the Izoard I could have lifted my foot when they caught me, I could have moved into the wheels and I would not have lost 12 seconds.
“But I went ahead and pushed it, which was what Froome wanted. He told me to be slower, slower.
“That day I was very angry because I sacrificed myself without making a gain for the team.”
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Froome, 32, has confirmed his participation in next month’s Vuelta a Espana – with the Brit trying to become the first rider since 1995 to do the Tour and Vuelta double.
No rider has triumphed at the Tour and Vuelta back-to-back since 1995 when the Vuelta was moved from April to take place in August and September.
The Kenyan-born cyclist, who has finished second on his previous three Vuelta appearances, said: “I’ve got the opportunity and I’m certainly going to go for it.
“The Vuelta is a race I love – it’s vicious but it’s three weeks that I enjoy. I’ve come second three times now and I’d love to win.”
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