Hard day at the office for Backstedt

By Shane Stokes in Lugo

Stage seven was a tough day for the Liquigas team including Magnus Backstedt, who had to haul his 90-odd kilos up the final summit finish to the Alto de el Morredero after driving the bunch early on. He talked this morning about the Italian squad's day at the start of Saturday's stage to Lugo, and about Danilo di Luca's problems in retaining the gold jersey.

"We had a bit of a hard day at work yesterday, we had to ride at the front all day and then try to get up that mountain at the end. The legs are recovering all right, I think.

"It was quite a difficult day [for Danilo], perhaps because you sit and do nothing but then you have to go absolutely eyeballs out up the climb. It's like when you get a slow day for the sprinters, it is also difficult to get yourself going properly for the sprint because your legs have done nothing all day.

"Danilo said afterwards that if he had another climb, he probably would have gone better. He is out of the lead now but he will definitely try to win another stage."

Backstedt will also chase the same goal at some point. "I haven't had a look at any stages yet to go for. The last couple of days that plan has been nullified by Di Luca having the jersey, so we have had to work for him. But I will keep plugging away and see what happens."