Stephen Cummings: "This is my best victory"

“Of all my victories, I think it's the best one. The Tour is the Tour, it's special. I didn't need to win a stage this year. I had a different condition from last year as I started the Tour riding for Mark [Cavendish] who is such a winner and an inspiration. It's brilliant, it's fantastic. I wasn't confident in that group with Nibali and Navarro. Before, I had to play it strategically with the teams who had the numbers, like Cofidis and Cannondale with three riders, Astana with two… I don't know why Navarro killed himself on the flat because he's such a good climber but when he rode away with one Cannondale (Breschel) and Chavanel's team-mate (Duchesne) it was perfect for me to go with them. Then I avoided Nibali to come across. It was a good strategy, I think! But I was cooking on the climb [to col d'Aspin]. I thought Nibali would come back so I wondered if I should wait for him and try to outsprint him. At the difference of my stage win at the Dauphiné where I had good sensations all the way, I felt horrible uphill today. I was worried that Nibali would pass me like Marco Pantani and I wouldn't be able to hold his wheel. But I committed to my decision to ride my tempo till the end. Last year's win at Mende was a dream. For a while after that stage victory, I questioned myself: what after that? I was lost for a month. When I eventually realized what I had achieved, I've wanted to do it again. But I needed confidence. I'm not the most confident person. I don't like to watch the video of Mende but I have to do it when I don't feel well to realize that I can do that. I also have a team behind me with calm people who believe in the process. My training is always the same. My weight is always the same. I just need luck and I know that I can win, I just don't know when. I haven't wanted to prove anything with regards to my non-selection for the Olympic Games. After the disappointment, I passed to the next chapter. The Tour de France is the biggest show. It's the biggest race on earth. It's bigger for a cyclist than the Olympics.”