Vincenzo Nibali conceded three seconds to Alberto Contador in today's first mountain stage of the Tour de France but the Italian was pleased with outcome. In an explosive finale that didn't suit him, things might even have gone better if he hadn't chosen the wrong gear.

Vincenzo Nibali responded to Alberto Contador's many accelerations in today's first mountain stage of the Tour de France and only had to led th Spaniard go 50m from the line, losing 3 insignificant seconds. The Italian was pleased with the outcome of the stage which finished with a short explosive climb that didn't suit his characteristics.

"Alberto Contador took the race in hand," he said. "The last climb suited him more than me. It was very difficult and explosive. I quickly understood what he wanted to do since he put his team at work. He attacked me but I was going well. I made a little mistake in choosing my gear. It was a bit too big. We've all paid the efforts of the previous days.

“It was a very hard 1,800 meters as I’m not a very explosive kind of rider. I was waiting for Alberto Contador's attacks and I wanted to respond to them as best as possible. I’d spent a lot of energy and in the last 100 metres he accelerated a lot.

"In my team, [Tanel] Kangert has waited for [Jakob] Fuglsang who almost crashed because we prefer to have two men high on GC. Michele Scarponi remained on my side.

“It was cold, but the bad weather was not a problem for me. I didn’t tell Kangert to wait for Fuglsang but Scarponi was there with me. I had Scarponi right behind me, I wasn’t alone. My team was working hard during the whole day and at the end, we had Scarponi there with me. After Alberto attacked, it was me that followed. I didn’t have a problem. It’s just that the attack was very hard.

"We spoke well about what to do when Contador would accelerate. We expected him to do so anytime. He's ready to gain time wherever he can. He went strongly! I've tried to handle the situation the best way I could. I've tried to control till the very end. I've resisted to all of his attacks.

"The race is not a duel though. It's more than that. Richie Porte is up there. He was supposed to be the last man for Froome. He's not here by coincidence. I've also seen Valverde riding at ease even if he lost a bit at the end. There have been great riders in action today. I feel good despite the rain. I try to remain calm in all occasions.

“Richie Porte is very strong. He’s now Sky’s big plan and he’s sure to do a good race as he’s not that far behind. At the Tour of Romandy Richie Porte was not in a great place but here he has been. Surely he’s going to be a man for the overall. And we have to add Valverde to the GC, even if he was a little behind today.

“Contador grabbed three seconds today. It wasn’t the kind of arrival that suited me. In that sort of steep climb in the Vuelta, I lost a lot more, so I’m a lot happier.

“Tomorrow's stage is one for breakaways. For the general classification, I’m not saying nothing will happen, but there’s a long way from the top of the final climb to the finish.”

Tanel Kangert fell on Friday in the last 500 meters of the seventh stage and suffered from the effects of the fall, despite the best efforts of doctors and therapists for the last night. Kangert and his teammate Jacob Fuglsang, suffering from an upset stomach for a second day, both worked in survival mode on themselves, hope to be ready to work for Nibali along with Michele Scarponi in the stages on Sunday and Monday.

"For the first time in my life I was leaving gaps in the peloton," Kangert said. "Every pedal stroke brought more cramps, to my arms, my back, my neck and my legs.

"After 50 kilometers the pain ceased, so that starting from tomorrow things can only get better."