Nicolas, you came 6th overall in the 2010 Vuelta, this is your eleventh Grand Tour but today, it’s your first stage win. How do you feel about it?

It’s a relief. After getting all those placing in the Grand Tours, I was wondering about my capacities and I was very frustrated to not making it. Recently, my team-mate Michael Rogers told me it would come soon, necessarily. And here I am, I win the first stage after the team time trial in the Vuelta, which is my favorite Grand Tour. I’m very happy.

There are many good riders in your team. How are the roles distributed?

As for myself, everything was made clear during the months of November and December: I was going to ride the Tour at the service of the team and of course Alberto Contador. It was also agreed that I’d get more freedom at the Vuelta.

Does this win give you the opportunity to become the leader of Saxo-Tinkoff ?

We’re going to work as a team. With Roman Kreuziger and myself, we have what we need to contest the overall classification. Rafal Majka can do it as well. He’s young. He has done the Giro (7th) this year but he’s very strong even he lacks experience. This is only the beginning of the Vuelta.

Your team has been criticised a lot by your sponsor Oleg Tinkoff during and after the Tour. What was your reaction?

We were all very sad. I can only say that Alberto Contador and his team-mates have given 100% during the Tour. But there were stronger riders than us, it’s as simple as that. Tinkoff can think and say what he wants but it’s sad.