"The stage was only calm for 6 or 7 kilometres, then it was nervous and lively until the end. We were very cautious because I didn't want to have the same problem as on the first stage, so I stayed behind my teammates and it went well. In the finale, I gave Tim [Merlier] a little help and then he managed to win. When you win with the team and have contributed a little to Tim's success, it feels like a victory too. Four years ago, it was also the team's third victory here with Cavendish, so history was made.
In terms of stage victories, we can be happy with three wins, now we'll see if I can do better than my third place last year. Tomorrow will be the first battle for the general classification. It's a stage for climbers and we'll see if UAE wants to go for the win. It's the Massif Central, so it's not necessarily the hardest stages and there won't be the biggest gaps, but we can't afford to lose any time on this one. I can't wait to get started. It'll be interesting, explosive and maybe surprising. The French will be very motivated, as they always are on 14 July. It's impossible to say whether it'll be a breakaway rider or not, but it'll be fireworks."
