Ion Izagirre (Astana): “It’s a satisfaction to have won stages on the three Grand Tours. Today was a hard day with the weather conditions. We knew it but we also knew tomorrow is a rest day so we started with the idea to give it all. It was a big breakaway, we had three riders and in the end Gorka [Izagirre] attacked on the downhill and he took quite an advantage. I could follow behind. I was a bit too far on some occasions but I had the energy to do it with Gorka’s help. He guided me and he gave me the confidence to finish it. You never know but I went with only 3km to go. It was the hardest section, the stage had been super hard because of the weather and I think we were all on the limit. I saw a bit of hesitation and I decided to give it all until the line.”
