Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2r) bounced back from his disappointing Tour de France with a heroic solo ride in the first mountain stage of the Tour de l'Ain while his talented teammate Pierre-Roger Latour confirmed his excellent condition by taking fourth and move into third in GC.

"I realized that I did not have the legs to go all the way on the penultimate ascent. We are all disappointed. We really wanted to win this stage. There is one stage left to get a win. We will fight until the end," Peraud told Directvelo.

"I know I'm not a fast sprinter," Latour told Directvelo. "That's why I thought it was not a good idea to wait. So I anticipated the sprint at the red kite while they were watching each other. But Florian Vachon reacted and brought the other two back to me. It again slowed down with 500 meters to go and I attacked again. Again, Florian returned to me and I eventually finished fourth. 

"The whole team really wanted to win this stage. This is why Jean-Christophe (Péraud) spent the day at the front. The white jersey is a small consolation. It's always good to take a distinctive jersey. 

"There is still more to do in the GC (Latour is 3rd at 19", Pozzovivo is 11th at 33" and Péraud is 15th at 52", ed.). We will attack tomorrow. 

"Personally, I will not do the Vuelta. My program at the end of the year is the Tour of Poitou-Charentes, Tour du Doubs, Tour de Gevaudan and many Italian races including the Coppa Sabatini."