"I won for me, for the podium and for the team."

Those were the words of Vincenzo Nibali, winner of stage nineteen at the 2015 Tour de France. Nibali alone attacked an elite group of leaders several kilometers before the top of the first category Col de la Croix de Fer and quickly built an advantage of 30 seconds over the top before joining the lone-breakaway rider ahead of him with nearly 60km to the finish.

Important early teamwork by Tanel Kangert and Michele Scarponi helped Nibali to eliminate his closest rivals in the General Classification, creating a perfect opportunity for him to attack when many of the elite group of leaders were unable to respond because they had no teammates to assist them. On the penultimate climb Nibali joined Pierre Rolland of France and built his lead to one minute before Rolland lost strength and the 2014 Tour de France champion was alone with two more mountains to climb.

In front of one million fans for nearly an hour, Nibali held a two minute advantage over the chasing riders, crossing the line after almost four and a half hours with his arms raised in a victory salute.

Nibali won the stage and moved from 7th to 4th overall in the General Classification, passing Robert Gesink of the Netherlands, Geraint Thomas of Great Britain and Alberto Contador of Spain.

“My attack was about, pride, anger and determination to fight back. We did a great ride as a team today,” Nibali said. “We wanted to blow open the race on the Col de la Croix de Fer because we knew it could be a great chance to gain time overall and win the stage. It wasn't easy but attacking from far out was best solution.

“In the last week I've been feeling better, even if we're all tired but compared to last year I lack some explosiveness. I think my endurance and power is the same but that's what I can feel compared to last year.

“Every year is not the same, its difficult to compare seasons. I was ready in the first week last year and stronger than this year. But we're human brings not machines, so you have good and better years. Perhaps Contador didn't go well here but he won the Giro d'Italia and he's paying for that. We've got to accept things; you can't always win against strong rivals. It's naturally things are like they are.”

“I won't say the words he used because they've too harsh and it's not nice to say them. He was very angry but I don't know what his problem was. Lots of things happen in a race…” he added revealing that he had been approached by Froome after the stage. The Brit is frustrated that the Italian attacked just as he had a mechanical. “Before judging, you need to think and use your brain. We're all nervous after the stage but he attacked me. But I didn't reply, I didn't say anything."

“I haven't seen Froome had a problem. When I looked back, it was to look at Kangert. We did the race on the Col de la Croix de Fer and were planning to make a big attack.

"It's been a difficult Tour de France for me, you've seen it. I've had trouble in the first week. I've done better in the second week. Every time I attacked, I paid for my efforts in the finale. It was hard again today but we've done a great job as a team with Michele Scarponi in the first breakaway, Tanel Kangert in the second because I wanted to have someone to help me at the front. 

“Lots of things have happened to me too, but that's cycling. When Contador crashed on the descent (to Pra-Loup) we didn't know until three or four kilometres after. It happens a lot of times in races. I can remember when I crashed at the 2010 Giro d'Italia, at Montalcino. There was the incident when Andy Schleck was attacked by Contador at the Tour the other year. There are no rules….

“Today the race radio didn't say anything. I knew that the chase group was at 40 seconds at the top, then 2:00 at bottom and further back on the climb. I just tried to continue my action and keep going all the way to the finish. I've had a great support from the crowd, by Italian and French fans. I thank them warmly. 

“Froome, Valverde or Quintana always came after me when I moved, but I was down in eighth overall. Perhaps if Nibali rides well, it scares people.

With one more important and extremely difficult day of racing in the Alps, Nibali is 1:24 from a podium finish in Paris on Sunday.

“I don't know about that, I went deep today,” he said. "Tomorrow's stage is only 100km but ends with a really hard climb up to L'Alpe d'Huez. It's an important stage. I think Movistar will focus on Nairo and so there's chance of doing something but we'll need to see how my legs are. Let's wait for tomorrow before making any predictions.”