Summary after the first week of the Tour, surviving crashes and the first week in the mountains?
"I am physically very strong, but mentally rather frustrated when I consider my position in the general classification. But this was only the first week of three. And the rides over the Alps are not what we had here." Cadel said.
He continues "I expect some changes at the top of the classification, but that TTT will have heavy consequences. But I shall keep attacking whenever I’ll have a chance.
Contador is my favorite, but in a tour, Lance improves always toward the end. I do not anticipate any row between them. Bruyneel had never such a collectively strong team, and he controls them well."
Jurgen Van den Broeck isn’t disappointed, "on Aspin, I was feeling good, and I took part to the attack. A pity we did not reach the other two. On Tourmalet I was not so good. But I am not disappointed, I never complaint about a missed chance ".
Mickael Delage to the hospital Mickael Delage finished very late. That crash two days ago has left injuries. Doc Jan Mathieu, we fear a light break of the coccyx. Very painful, and to be cured exclusively by resting. Monday, I shall take him to a hospital for some X-ray plates".
Seventh over the Tourmalet, and this on his first Tour, Greg Van Avermaet was happy with his performance. "On Aspin I was immediately dropped. I could not follow. But I refuses to wait for the "bus". I dug very deep, first to come back, and then to remain near Cadel over Tourmalet. You can’t figure how pleasant it was. To ride over that mountain in this position. I obviously hoped for a pack sprint. But with Freire there, I could not have won, I fear."
