"The plan was for me to do it alone, but then [Matteo Vercher] helped me get started and ended up at the front with me. It was too much for him, so we carried on together and I was really happy. We're two mates, so sharing this breakaway as a duo in the Tour de France is a great moment. The same goes for sharing the prize. No one was interested in the breakaway today, but it's still a chance to be in the Tour de France, so I like to give it a go even though I know there's very little chance of making it to the end. Maybe I have the legs to win a stage, but I'll have to see if there are any opportunities in the second or third stages, when everyone is tired."
