Stage 4 Interviews

 

Stage 4, West Midlands, Wolverhampton to Birmingham

Friday, September 1 | www.tourofbritain.com

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INTERVIEWS

 

Mark Cavendish speaking about stage 4 and his near miss: 

"When the first break go had a CSC rider in it, I knew it wouldn't stay away. But then when Manning, Thomas and Partridge got away with eventual winner Willems and CSC went to the front to control it, I knew it was the break."

He then jumped after it, taking with him three or four others who wouldn't work but he said he expected them to start working once they got across to the leaders - which they did. "There was a Belgian combine going on in the break and towards the end, Paul Manning got away with Willems. Chasing them and drifting was Geraint Thomas and I joined him and we were only 50 metres behind at the final roundabout. Willems took a 'shorcut' across the roundabout whilst Manning went the way we were supposed to. I took a spur of the moment decision to follow Willems and then sprinted after him as fast as I could. I blew with 50 metres to go and was really disappointed not to get the stage win."

Matt Goss: Retired from the race on stage 3 wearing the yellow jersey.

"I had a sore knee and it was causing a few problems and didn't want to make it into something that could cost me riding the World Under 23 Championships which is a big goal for me."

"I was also in a tough position to hold the jersey and had a lot of CSC and Quickstep riders in the break with me having only one teammate. The chances of me holding the jersey were only small and it was disappointing for me to have this sore knee and not finish the Tour. I have the Hessen Tour which starts in a week and a half and that will also be good preparation for me and I think from how I have been going here, that my form is great and in a week or two, I'll be ready for the World Championships."

Andy Tennant: talking about Stage 3 when he was off the back on the first climb and then got in break.

"I dropped my chain at the bottom of the climb and had a massive chase to get back on. A break had gone away when I did but luckily it had Gez (Geraint Thomas) in it so none of us had to work. I was on the back foot for ages but started to feel better after a nature break lull in the race and got in a break with Boonen and co. It was the break of the race but CSC broke it up in the cross winds and got across to us."

"I got dropped unfortunately just before a sprint climb which was pretty big and was pretty disappointed. I think if I had not had the earlier efforts, I could have stayed in there a bit longer and helped Roger. I was quite pleased overall with the riding considering."

Being at home in Wolverhampton: "It's special here with everyone coming up to me and saying hello, all the old faces I haven't seen in a while. It's really nice being home."

Kristian House:

"I am a bit disappointed really but it is my own fault. I wasn't paying attention when we went over the last climb up to the sprint and six guys jumped away. The way they were riding, it looked like they would just ride it to the finish but that wasn't what they did. I tried to jump over to them, but couldn't do it and then Unibet realised they had missed it and started driving and they weren't bringing them back.

"I was in the moves all day. At the start, you never know if they are going to let something go and you have to be there just to see. If they let you go, you're in a good position if a break rides up to you - but they didn't let it go as Quickstep brought it back. Then we were just waiting for the next move to go and I was in that and it came back and I went again straight away with two other guys and then eight others rode across to us to form the main break. So it was a good day but disappointing not to get a result. I am looking for a top 10."

Kristian also has a home stage in Kent to ride. "I have made it hard for myself in doing anything in that because I am in the overall and they won't let me do anything but I'll still give a shot. Overall the Tour isn't going too bad. I didn't feel too good at the start but yesterday (stage 3) I felt really good which is why I was kicking myself afterwards for not being a bit more attentive."

Ross Sander on his crash and day on stage 3:

"I got to the back of the bunch and I don't know what happened, I just ended up on the deck. It took me so long to get on after my puncture as well. Luckily they all sat up a bit. With the group, it was hard enough just sitting in the gutter and then I punctured. I was trying to remember to be relaxed and to use the cars to get back on but it took me so long to get back on and then I go and crash. The mechanics were good and before I knew it, I was on my way again. You just have to chill out and try and relax."

Ian Stannard: Rider of the day on stage 3 in many people's opinion:

"I was dead chuffed with the ride, really pleased. I was suffering for the whole day and didn't feel great at the start. The cross wind section was the important part and I got up for that and that set me up for the rest of the race."

 

Asked how he was coping with the climbs, being a big rider, Ian said: "These climbs are nothing compared to Italy really and I?m not climbing too bad out there so it was pretty flat round here. It wasn?t a problem for me. Straight from the gun it was really hard and a group with Gez went up the road and in the chase, we didn't really go below 60k an hour. Then later in the crosswinds, I saw CSC at the front and thought I'd better get up there. Then when I got up there, some Phonak rider blew and there was a 50 metre gap and there was me, Nick Nuyens, Cav, leathering it and it was so hard. We managed to make up a bit of time on the corners taking some risks and got across to it, and once we were in it, it was pretty comfy and I sat there for the rest of the day."

 

"The last 15k were pretty eventful. The Strines wasn't too hard and I felt comfy and then the next one surprised me. Quickstep put in a big attack and I couldn't hold it really for the last 800 metres. I'm pretty disappointed about that and if I had managed to do that, I reckon I would have held on to them for the rest of the race. I waited over the top for Roger who was just behind me and the objective was to get him to the finish as fast as possible so I rode as fast as I could."

 

On being with riders like a Milan San Remo winner, he said, "I was thinking I'm with some pretty big guys here! When I was in the break so I was pretty happy but wish I could have gone a bit further. I've got a lot to learn and a few years, I'll improve. I have learnt a lot from these guys here. Just that leadout with the Quickstep was bloody tough but great to get Roger the win and learn so much so fast."

Mark Cavendish speaking about stage 3:

"It was alright. I'm normally always there when its crosswinds and have the head to be there. I had a bad patch mid distance before the climbs and couldn't hack it to be honest. I started to wait for the bunch but they never came and we rolled in 20 minutes down." Cav' then explained how he got to the break with last year's winner Nuyens and Ian Stannard saying that the GB rider was really strong and it was when and not if they would make it.