Lowe "into the groove"

By Gregor Brown in Châteauroux

Australia's Trent Lowe has found his feet the 95th Tour de France - his first Grand Tour. "I feel well and I feel fit. I feel like I am getting into my groove," stated one of Garmin's GC riders - Lowe - to Cyclingnews minutes before the start of stage five to Châteauroux. Lowe forms Garmin's two-pronged classification approach with team-mate Christian Vande Velde.

Lowe is currently 6'26" down in the general classification. He will feel more comfortable when the Tour de France enters the high-mountains of the Pyrenees and Alps.

"Nervous? I think I was worse off the first couple of days and now it has settled down a bit. Hopefully, it won't be quite as tense now. Maybe tomorrow to Super-Besse will be tenser."

Lowe will be charged with the well being of Vande Velde and, above all, David Millar. The Scot is third overall in the general classification and has his eyes on the maillot jaune.

"It is so close, the first three classification riders are not separated by much at all. There are some hard climbs leading to the finish climb," Lowe continued of stage six to Super-Besse. "On the last climb it will be 'game on' and 'general time' again tomorrow."

He counts on Millar to have a go at the yellow race leader's top. "There are a lot of guys who are going to try to get yellow. Millar? Yes, if we are that close for him."

Nevertheless, Lowe warned of escapes spoiling Millar's ride into yellow.