Yeah, I think you're right. He was the best rider in 2019, yet missed two weekends and still finished 2nd in the World Cup. He won Lenzerheide in August 2019, and never raced on the MTB until Albstadt in May 2021.
He also missed the test event in October 2019, to race a road event.
Covid did mess things up, and then the delayed road season meant he missed the two XC World Cups in October 2020 - plus the Worlds in Leogang.
The prep for the Tour meant he had only 2 XC World Cups in which to prepare for Tokyo....... and he was never quite in top form.
Will be interesting to see just how much MTB he does in future,as the Tour is going to get in the way. And the lack of racing will affect his ranking, grid position.