Thibaut Pinot needs that he is a dangerous podium candidate in the Tour de France when he finished second in Today's big mountain stage. Despite enjoying riding on home soil in the Vosges, the pure climber is looking forward to the Alps and Pyrenees whose longer climbs suit him better, and even claimed not to have had his best day.

Second in the queen stage of the Vosges in La Planche des Belles Filles, 6th overall, Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) can have high ambitions from now on.

"I finished second, I'm glad. I had good sensations but I was not in a great day. Yet I finished second and it's a super place. I like that kind of weather with rain and cold. It was a hard stage like the Vosges can offer with the rain, the mist and unfortunately Contador's crash. Froome was a great loss and Contador is again something else", he said.

"My condition is fine and I have no regrets. Nibali was stronger than I am and there is nothing to add. When I was 300 metres from the finish line, it was like a stadium with all the crowd cheering me. It was thrilling, I couldn't let go, I gave everything.

"On the last climb, everyone was tired. Scarponi was on the front and when he sets the tempo, it is difficult to attack. Afterwards, when Nibali went, it was every man for himself. 

"I like the Vosges but the climbs are too short for me and it's really great to finish second here. I didn't sleep well, I felt a lot of pressure. In the end, I had good legs and was serene. I knew I could get a result. It was a beautiful performance. The differences are big which proves that it was a hard stage. I hope there will be another Tour finish here to win this time.

"Now my ambitions remain the same, I'm not going to change anything because Alberto crashed. I look for the top 10, I can move up and the white jersey will come along. But the Tour is everyday, anything can happen, as we saw with Contador. I scored points but we're only at half-race. There are five mountain stages left, four top finishes. The part I like most is ahead of us."