Andy Schleck – “39 seconds is not a lot”

“Everybody was saying that I was beaten before today’s stage but I said I wouldn’t give up and I tried everything today and I got pretty close. Until 10 kilometers from the finish, I close but in the end [Alberto] was in a position when he could have gained quite a lot of time on me. At the finish, it wasn’t so much, huh?
“After over 3,500 kilometers 39 seconds is not a lot. Different circumstances, like having my brother there, would have been good for me.
“I believe in everything that we do – in the race and in life. We do it because we want to do it. I made no mistakes… ah, well, I do regret that I dropped the chain the other day but still he would have won by two seconds and I can’t go back on that.
“I never had doubts about how I’d go in the time trial. My team had faith in me and I went out there today… and did what I could. It was not a battle between me and Contador; in a time trial you fight with yourself – you’ve got to push yourself to the limits and I tried to do that. When I finished I could barely get off my bike. I gave it everything and I think I did a pretty good time trial. I’m satisfied with today and the whole Tour.
“I don’t care what the time difference is. What counts is what place you have at the end, and Alberto was just better than me this year… but I’ll be back.
“I’ve won another white jersey, two stages and I believe it’s been pretty successful Tour for the whole team.”