“When I saw that there was [Ryder] Hesjedal at the front, I thought it was a good candidate for a breakaway. He is a solid, and that does not quit. Only now it was not the best we've seen from Hesjedal. With the level he had when he won the Giro, I think it would have been different. In any case I believed something could happen; when you are in this situation, it is essential to believe in what we do.
“I aimed only for the stage win, and then there was the opportunity to take points for the polka-dot jersey, but it was not the goal. It was the big stage in the Alps, and I've ridden it in its entirety in training. I gave everything I had, and when I take my shower, I will have no regrets. But Rui Costa is a very strong, and when he joined me at the front he was much cooler than me.
“Tomorrow I will see if there are opportunities to take points for the polka-dot jersey, but it may not be before the final climb. Because with the efforts that I have provided today, I can not see myself finishing in the top 10 in Semnoz. And favourites will certainly play to win them, so they'll score points.”
