“I had done the reconnaissance for this stage so I knew the final well and that helped me. The start of the stage was very difficult, it took more than two hours to form a breakaway. Then I thought we were going to finish quite quietly, but Lidl-Trek launched an attack, then it was Tadej so there was a confrontation again. I was with Jonas and he did his best to come back, we were able to catch up on the descent with Christophe Laporte. At that moment, I felt like I had good legs and I was confident. So in the car they told me that I could try something. There was Jan Hirt at the front. I asked him to wait for me and then drop me off at the last kilometre and he did it perfectly. I took back 10” from Tadej and Jonas but that wasn’t the goal. I remain focused on my place on the podium, I'm good where I am but it allowed me to gain a little time on those behind me. I know that Tadej is defending his first place, but I am five minutes from him so I benefit from a little freedom and I took advantage of it.”
