Stage 15 reactions

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): "Yesterday I had no legs, I didn't feel very well in my head and I had no motivation at all. I understood during the yesterday's stage that I wouldn't win the Tour this year. My teammates were wonderful, they encouraged me a lot this morning. That's what make me attack in the first kilometers. I felt good, as well as my legs. At the first break, I thought there were too many riders and that I had to go on with my effort. As I saw I could make it, I tried to be alone and first at the top of the last climb, in order to be sure to win the stage. Today is a great victory. For sure, I wasn't lucky the first two weeks and without my fall, things could have been different. But that's sport…"

Juanjo Cobo (Saunier Duval): "This morning we were saying that Mayo, De la Fuente or I should be among the breakaways of the day. We tried our best and the break seemed to fly down the first mountain pass. Although the leading group was made of more than twenty men, we were going well. I was doing OK, which I believe Vinokourov noticed, because he wouldn´t take his eyes off me. He followed me wherever I went and I did the same with him. We knew that the rider who managed to lead over the top of the last climb would take the stage, so we bet everything on it. Finally, Vino proved to be the rightful winner. I´m happy because I came to my first Tour ever just to go as far as I could. I had a bad day yesterday and the only thing I could do today was to try and do my best in the breakaway to grab a stage win. The Tour hasn´t finished yet; there are several stages ahead. Wednesday can be good to break clear. Of course, many other riders must be thinking the same! Anyway, the rest day is just what I need to regain strength."

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