During his two years with Astana, Team Sky, and Movistar, Mikel Landa (opens in new tab) never got the chance to become a complete leader in the Grand Tours.

But with Bahrain McLaren (open in new tab), the Spanish climber has finally been given the opportunity to become the undisputed GC leader and is relishing the chance to challenge for the yellow jersey at the Tour de France (open in new tab).

"Everyone trusts me and the team supports me. I'm really, really confident," Landa told a press conference the day before the Tour in Bahrain.

"I started the season with a clear goal. I'm at the start of the Tour to fight for the win."

The 30-year-old Basque rider, who took a career-best fourth place from Sky in the 2017 Tour de France and sixth in Movistar's colors in last year's race, agreed that he is not one of the title contenders, but given the quality of the Tour field, that is normal He said it was a good thing. He also noted that this status could work in his favor.

"I am not responsible for controlling my rivals, nor do I have to work.

"It's a mountainous route from day one and the terrain is varied. Perhaps we can take advantage of this. I am certainly motivated by this prospect."

Landa downplayed the fact that, as a longtime first lieutenant, the Tour was his only chance now.

"It's a great opportunity. It's now or never, it's now or never. 'Over the last few years, the young guys are getting stronger. So we need to make the most of this opportunity."

The Bahraini leader chose another former Sky rider and team newcomer, Dutch rider Wout Poels, as an essential teammate for his GC hopes.

"Wout will be the best teammate at the end [of the climb]. I've seen how he can separate groups of leading riders before and I think he will be very useful."

Sitting beside Reeder, Bahrain McLaren team manager Rod Ellingworth, another relatively new member of the revamped team for 2020, said he expects the Tour to be particularly intense right from the start.

"I think there are two reasons for this. First, the first few days are really difficult. I think it's a pretty exceptional start compared to previous years, and I think it will create opportunities for some players," Ellingworth said. [Second, because of the situation the sport is in, some teams may be facing financial problems. This is a store window for that."

"Every day is pretty intense, that's for sure. The Tour won't be won in the first week, but by the end of the Tour some of the riders will feel that for whatever reason they've walked away from the Tour."

Ellingworth also noted the absence of sprinter Mark Cavendish from the Bahrain McLaren Tour team. The British sprinter had won 30 races in the Tour and had hoped that his move to the team would revitalize his career. However, due to the lack of racing caused by the COVID-19 interruption, he missed his chance (open in new tab).

"The lack of racing worked against him. He had a lot of problems the last two years, on and off the bike. Ellingworth added, "I think everyone knows that Mark is a bike racer, he is not particularly passionate about training and he loves to race.

"I think he was upfront about not being ready for the Tour this year. He is doing that at home now and looking forward to the other races."