Searching for the perfect break
STAGE 10
Today was a day I had already underlined when looking at the stages way back in December. Having had a well-needed rest day, which as usual went by in an instant, I was really motivated.
We’d even looked at the first 30ks or so on our ride just to make sure we’d get in the move. It was one of those days everyone knew was going to be a break: too hard for sprinters and not hard enough to shake up the GC.
I think most of us were a bit shocked to see Jonas and Tadej following a move on the very first climb, it was then I started doubting my chances of winning the stage. I kept fighting but just couldn’t stay with the bunch over the next longer climb, it was outrageously hot.
I think if Victor Lafay hadn’t given me a bottle and some ice that was going spare, I would have exploded big time.
In the end it was almost all climbers left in the group fighting for the break so I wasn’t too disappointed to not be there. Pello was the man in the move from us and, oh boy, did he deliver. He’s such a calm and intelligent guy, and you could tell that by the way he rode the final. We were all very emotional, it was such an important day for the team. Pello also jumped himself up to fifth on the GC. A perfect start to the second week.
ST AGE 12
I think it’s fair to say that was the hardest start to any race I’ve ever had. Everyone agreed. The problem with this point in the Tour is everyone’s strong enough to attack, but no one’s got the legs left to really keep it going.
Today it took 100km for the break to go. Luckily I was feeling good and was jumping with a lot of moves the whole time. I made the mistake of going too deep trying to create something myself, which normally I never try – it’s way better to follow other moves. The move that countered me was the eventual break. I was there with the guys that made it but I exploded completely. I was gutted, all that effort just to be in a break I wasn’t going to win from anyway.
STAGE 13
This wasn’t going to be a breakaway win, or so we thought. I’d tried so hard yesterday and wasn’t there, so when Kwiatkowski was jumping across to the guys in front, I thought I may as well follow. Sure enough, that was the right moment and there were 20 guys in the front including me and Matej Mohoric. Again, it was a break I knew I wasn’t going to win from but it was a nice confidence boost knowing I still could get myself in it.
I don’t think UAE wanted 20 guys in the break, we really made them work for it before the one and only climb at the very end. All of us chopped off chaingangstyle perfectly, it was probably smoother than being in the bunch. Unfortunately we only had three and a half minutes at the bottom of the climb so with Pogi and Jonas fresh
