De Weert: 'Happy with my race'
Sylvain Chavanel lost his yellow jersey today. While Kevin de Weert did a fine job climbing to a 15th place in the stage, only 1 minute and 14 seconds behind stage winner Schleck. "I'm happy with my race. On the Col de la Ramaz I kept up with Sylvain, then when Barredo caught up with us from the team car they told me to try to run my race. First I caught up to Armstrong's group at the top of the climb. In the downhill I pushed it to the limit and I got back in to the head of the group. I stuck with them up to 4 kilometers from the finish, then I took my tempo. In the next days I'm going to try to do my best. We'll see day by day."
Chavanel lost 11 minutes today and saw Cadel Evans overtake his yellow jersey. "As often happens to me after an extraordinary like yesterday, today I payed my efforts. I was already not brilliant at the beginning of the stage. These things happen in cycling, we're not robots. However I'm thrilled with the reception I got from the public that supported me along the route. It was an unforgettable experience. I was riding between two sides of an enthusiastic crowd. This is the power of the yellow jersey. Tomorrow I'll get my energy back and then I'll get ready for a second part of the Tour in which I'd like to continue doing well. The conditions are good and so is the terrain to attack."
Today during the race Jerome Pineau had a fall. "I slid to the ground together with some other riders. I have some scrapes on my knees, my right elbow and on my back, and I've got cervical pain. The rest day will arrive in the right moment and it will be perfect to recuperate."