The Pyrenees had seen Mikel Landa emerge at the heart of one of the biggest points of intrigue at the Tour de France, yet all the talk of 'cards' and even internal rivalry seemed to be nipped in the bud in the Massif Central on Sunday, with the Spaniard slotting straight back into pure domestique duty.
After riding away from team leader Chris Froome at the Peyragudes summit finish, and breaking away on the short stage to Foix, Landa jumped to fifth overall, yet Froome's surprise retrieval of the yellow jersey on Saturday cast the 2015 Giro d'Italia podium finisher back into his former role.
With the team back in yellow, control was once again the order, and when Froome was cut adrift on the approach to the first-category Col de Peyra Taillade on Sunday, Landa was ordered to drop from the group of favourites to help pace Froome back into contention.
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"The team told me to drop back. It was Sergio [Henao] and [Mikel] Nieve with him on the final climb, and when they weren't able to stay with him anymore, I had to stop," Landa explained to reporters in Le Puy-en-Velay.
"I joined him, and we tried to save the day."
Landa had said on Friday that he would love to win the Tour de France and be the top dog, but that he knew his place. Nevertheless, his maverick streak is no secret after his 2015 season at Astana, where he was forced to sacrifice himself for Fabio Aru at the Giro before ripping out his earpiece to win the queen stage of the Vuelta.
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