"It has been a very fast day out. We knew it was going to be a nervous stage because of the wind. I was full on, and couldn’t even think of saving legs for tomorrow. For a long time I didn’t have any bidons, so that didn’t help for me to feel alright. In the end, I had to let the peloton go.
Tomorrow’s stage is going to be the most difficult one of the Tour de France so far. We may suffer a lot, and it will be a working day for me - not one for myself to embark on the breakaway. I will almost certainly lose the polka dot jersey. I’m sure the breakaway riders will rack up most of the KOM points, and somebody will deserve to wear it. In any case, one day in the polka dot jersey is already a bonus and a privilege for me. Keeping it for several stages has been an honour."
