One day after the withdrawal of their leader on the road to La Planche des Belles Filles, Tinkoff-Saxo riders rode together with the rest of the team staff and, at the request of team-manager Bjarne Riis, halted to express their view on the days ahead without Alberto Contador.

"It was important to listen to them. We had dedicated all our efforts to help Alberto, they all dreamed to lead him to victory in Paris. His fracture changed everything," said Philippe Mauduit, sports director of the Russian outfit.

"But they are professionals. They also realised it was an opportunity to show what they could do. Every day, we're going to name two leaders according to the profile of the stage with a stage win in mind," he added.

Tinkoff-Saxo have plenty of talent to keep playing a role in the race.

Australia's Michael Rogers remains a rider capable of shine on all terrain, like Ireland's Nicholas Roche. Dane Michael Mørkøv is one of the most consistent attackers of the peloton, which is also the case of Sergio Paulinho. Daniele Bennati is fast. So many chances to seize outside of the race for the GC which is now a remote memory.