Analysis: Enric Mas and Mikel Landa's worrying form weeks before the start of the Tour de France

Spanish cycling has witnessed a worrying performance by two of its great hopes for the upcoming Tour de France: Enric Mas and Mikel Landa. Both performed below expectations in the recent Criterium du Dauphiné, generating uncertainty about their form ahead of the Grand Boucle.

Enric Mas, Movistar Team's talented Mallorcan cyclist, finished 17th overall, a considerable 8 minutes and 40 seconds behind the winner, Jonas Vingegaard. Even more worrying is the fact that Mas was more than 5 minutes behind riders like Ben O'Connor or Jai Hindley, who showed an outstanding performance in the competition.

For his part, Mikel Landa, another of Spain's leading cyclists, finished more than 12 minutes behind the leader, showing considerable wear and tear and a below-expected performance. It has been mentioned that Landa may have been ill in the days leading up to the Criterium du Dauphiné, which could have influenced his poor performance. However, beyond the individual physical states, the fact remains that the situation of both riders generates concern.

With less than three weeks to go until the start of the Tour de France, the main competition in cycling worldwide, and considering that the first week already features hard stages in the Pyrenees, it is clear that the form of Enric Mas and Mikel Landa does not seem the most suitable to face the challenges that await them in the race. The Tour de France is a demanding competition that requires an optimal level of physical and mental condition, and the results obtained in the Criterium du Dauphiné raise doubts about their ability to compete at the highest level.

It is important to remember that performance in a race does not define a rider's future performance, and both Mas and Landa have proven in the past to be capable of great performances. However, the proximity of the Tour de France and the need for optimal preparation to meet the challenges it presents makes the concern understandable.

Movistar Team and the technical staff will have the responsibility to carefully assess Enric Mas' situation, adjust his training plan and ensure that they are in the best possible condition for the start of the Tour. The time remaining until the race is limited, but not impossible to take advantage of to regain the desired form and performance. More of the same with Mikel Landa and Bahrain Victorious.

Spanish cycling fans are hoping that both Enric Mas and Mikel Landa will be able to overcome the current obstacles and show their true potential in the Tour de France. The race is full of surprises and riders have the ability to overcome adversity. Cycling is an unpredictable sport and sometimes unexpected results can give way to great feats. We will have to keep an eye on how the conditions of both riders evolve in the coming weeks and wait for them to prove their worth in the Grande Boucle.