Mikel Landa, who has been forced to leave the Giro d'Italia, has told Cyclingnews that he may be present at the start of the Tour de France to help Chris Froome to win his third yellow jersey.

"It is possible but I have to recuperate for a while and then we can think about it. It would be a small change to go to the Tour so it is possible to put it in the plan. If they took me to the Tour to help Chris, it would be a pleasure", the Team Sky rider explained. "I slept a bit better. I still had a fever quite late but I am a little better. [I have] just finished and now I need to recuperate. What is possible, we won’t be sure for a few more days. After that, we will be able to make a plan."

He fell ill over the rest day after the individual time trial. "On the night of Monday and Tuesday, I was feeling bad and cold. I couldn’t sleep very well and in the race couldn’t give my maximum. I had a fever, and stomach pains and I couldn’t stay with the group. It was really hard. After the time trial, I had a lot of hope and I wanted to fight for the Giro."