At the start of Thursday's stage to St Etienne, David de la Cruz (TNE) confessed he was living "the most extraordinary time" in his life.

In this so-called transition stage, the diminutive Spaniard had even taken part in the day's breakaway and dreamt of stage victory. Unfortunately, the Team NetApp climber found himself on the tarmac with a broken collarbone 90 km from the line.

Taken to hospital in Villefranche-sur-Saone, David de la Cruz told of his misfortune:

"I slept only for one hour because of the pain and also because I had so many thoughts in my head. But c'est Le Tour," he said to letour.fr.

The Spaniard had really dreamt of doing well in his first Tour, taking advice from friends Joaquim Rodriguez or Juan Antonio Flecha. He prepared carefully with a nutritionist and a mental coach. But his dreams of shining close to home in Pla d'Adet were shattered within seconds.

"I did my best preparation and I was in really good shape. Unfortunately the good luck that you need as a cyclist wasn't with me in this race. The better days will come again," he said.