Jonas Vingegaard, (Jumbo-Visma, 2nd of the 4th stage): “I would have preferred to win the stage and take the yellow jersey, but Mikkel (Bjerg) had a very good time today (Wednesday), he really impressed me. I also think I managed a good time trial. The plan was to go strong. I may have started a little too strong, moreover. I tried to take a breather in the middle and give it my all in the last part. When it was necessary to put some more on the end, I really had nothing left, I was emptied. I should have started a little quieter to have more in the last kilometers. I hope to recover the yellow jersey in the next few days. But at least we won’t have to ride for the next few days (smile). »
Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal – Quick-Step, 13th): “It was a good course, but more for specialists. I knew it would be complicated to play the leading roles but I wanted to give the maximum. I had a heat stroke in the last ten kilometers, I felt that if I went faster, I exploded. I couldn’t speed up. I’m happy all the same. I thought I would lose more on this kind of course. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a flat lap and it was really hot. I hope to continue this Dauphiné on my way, there are beautiful things to do in the mountains. »
“Not the time I expected”
David Gaudu, 34th in the day’s stage
Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma, former Yellow Jersey, 21st): “I knew it was going to be complicated, I did it to block. After 15, 20 minutes I started having trouble with the position. I knew it was a bit too long for me. I did my best, I’m not disappointed. I took a good little shot (1’50” on Bjerg) but I had three great days in yellow and I’m happy, Jonas (Vingegaard) did a good time so that’s the main thing. We’ll see if he can recover the yellow jersey in the mountains. Individually, I no longer have a goal now, that’s it for Jonas and the team. I’m going to have a lot of work yet, with four beautiful and hard days ahead. It’s far from over. »
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ, 34th): “It’s not the time I was expecting. We will analyze what happened because it was going well for the first 15 kilometers, then the end was a bit fatal for me. Did I leave a little too quickly, did I get stuck with the first big heat, that, I don’t know. We are not going to procrastinate too much on this, quickly move on to something else. We wanted to get a good result, to approach the podium on the Dauphiné, it could be very complicated. But in any case, we are here to work, the number 1 objective remains the Tour, and the third week of the Tour is in a long time. We’re not going to let it get us down, there are still some great stages in this Dauphiné, we’re going to use it to work and have fun. »
Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers, 40th): “I think I wasn’t so bad. Not to mention the weather, the sensations weren’t that bad, that’s what I was hoping for. I know I’m not with the best, but I didn’t expect to be one; This was not the case before my fall so it’s not gonna be now (smile). But it was a good experience, I felt good on the time trial bike, with a new position. I hope to go on improving, it would really be the first time that I give my body 100%, it is still a little blocked but it will improve with the mountain stages. Win a stage? No. Not for the moment. You have to be aware and realistic, the others are strong, I can’t hope to reach their level. »