2016 was his 3 GT in a year season. If he'd have managed a top 10 at la Vuelta he would have been one of only 3 riders to ever get top 10's in all 3 GTs in one season. I agree with Blanco that his racing and finishing on the podium was likely a bigger issue with his Olympics than the Tour was. Also he could have just had a bad day at the Olympics. Granted he's an exceptionally consistent rider, but even he is allowed to have a bad day once in awhile. Unfortunately for him, when he does it's more magnified because he is so consistent. The other possibility of his performance at that Olympics was his age just starting to show a little. One other thing to remember is that the Olympics have been his worst one day race with his best finish having been 12th in 2008. Unlike the Worlds, the Olympics haven't exactly been kind to him.
Also one other thing, he did just set the record for most all-time top 10s in Grand Tours this season with his top 10 at the Tour and his podium at la Vuelta. So it's not a pointless top 10 at the Tour. That's a record that we are unlikely to see anyone come close to in our lifetime and he put that number so far out there that it could be a record that people will look at as untouchable.