Competitions

Cervelo TestTeam race quotes: Tour de France Stage 4

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Parent Category: Competitions

Category: Tour de France 2010

Published on Wednesday, 07 July 2010 18:51

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Thor Hushovd (NOR): “I wanted to do better, but I missed the power in the sprint today. It’s the fatigue of the efforts from the past three days catching up with me, especially from yesterday. Also, today was our first day in the heat, and I don’t do real well in the heat, so I was suffering all day. I was too early in the front in the sprint. I was on the wheel of Cavendish, but Petacchi started a long sprint, and I had to start my sprint again. He was faster today, so chapeau. I have good legs. I think I can do what I did last year and pick up some points in the medium mountain stages. Of course I want to win the green jersey again, but first I want to win another stage. The fight to the green jersey is just starting. I have to take it day by day and try to pick up points when I can.”

Sport director Jean-Paul van Poppel (NED): “The team did a good job today to control the sprint and we put Thor in perfect position with 300 meters to go. Thor just didn’t have the speed today because he’s feeling a bit of fatigue from the past few days. That’s completely normal. The rest of the guys on the team got through today, no problems at all. Tomorrow is another for Thor. We can expect him to be feeling better.”

Carlos Sastre (ESP): “We’re having a great start to the Tour as a team. Thor won a stage, I am still in the hunt and everyone is riding great. I have to take it day by day. The good news is that my back isn’t hurting me. That’s the most important thing right now. I was in good position in the front group, right behind Contador, when someone crashed in front of me. There was nothing I could and I also went down. I broke both wheels. Luckily, Brett Lancester (AUS) was there and I could take his bike. I was able to join the Basso group and didn’t lose too much time. That’s bike racing.”

Brett Lancaster (AUS): “These next few days before the first climbing stages in the Alps are good opportunities for Thor to pick up another stage victory and chase the green jersey. We’re in a good position now with the green jersey, but the Tour is just starting. A lot can happen. Thor is motivated to win more. My job is to be there for Thor in the sprints.”