“It was a tough stage and the weather conditions made it even tougher. It was super hot before we got rain on our head and ice falling from the sky. The temperature went down to 10°. We went from an extreme to another. It made the race harder but it's still a great day for us. I'm happy to still be in yellow. My team-mates did a good job from start to finish. We were put under pressure by Contador and Valverde in the first climb but we didn't panic. We went after them. I owe to my team-mates to still be in yellow.
Several times before the Tour, I said this would be the biggest battle of my career and it's definitely the case. It's not easy to ride away from everyone this year. The level is higher than in previous years. At the back of my mind, I was waiting for Nairo Quintana to attack until we reached the last kilometer. I was wondering if he was saving himself for a big move. As he didn't, I like to think that he was at his limit. He stayed on my wheel, glued…
I was quite surprised to hear that Alberto Contador was in his car. As he had attacked, he obviously wasn't feeling too bad but I guess he was still suffering from his injuries. It's a shame he's no longer in the race. It would have made the Tour even more exciting that it already is. It's a big loss for the Tour de France but I have no doubt he'll be able to set other goals for himself this year. The change for me is that we won't have to chase his attacks 100 kilometres before the finish. It's something less to worry about but it's a pity.”
