"Despite the cold and the bad weather we've been in these early days of the Paris-Nice, I feel good and very moral.
Today's stage, played between Vichy and Saint-Etienne, was quite complicated, with no more than 6 ports of third in the tour and the last, the CĂ´te de Rochetaillée, just 6.5 km from the finish.
When Contador started, it was okay but I waited a bit to see who would go after him.
He was very strong as he usually does in this type of situation but react in the fall.
I have had the misfortune to puncture the rear wheel slightly less than three kilometers to go.
I followed a bit like that but I had to stop at the final corner.
It is very important because it gave me the same time that the group that Vandevelde was behind the stage winner.
Chavanel lost some in suits, a result of the efforts of yesterday so I can get close to 45 "overall.
Now to wait for Friday's stage is that scary at all! "
Source: Caisse d'Epargne