Pierre Rolland delivered a heroic performance in today's stage of the Tour de France but came up short in the battle against Vincenzo Nibali. He was rewarded with the prize as the most aggressive rider.

"I've ridden my bike today just as I love it, with my heart and pushed by the crowd. But Nibali decided to attack and it ruined my plans. L'Alpe d'Huez is my last chance for a stage win," he said.

"The combativity prize is a consolation prize. I found myself with Nibali and he is hard to beat. I tried to do the maximum to prevent him from coming back because I knew it would make the yellow jersey group ride hard. At the bottom of La Toussuire, he accelerated and I could not follow. I continued my effort because I knew that the slope became easier towards the end and I could follow the group to the end. 

"I knew this stage by heart. I think it was evident because Nibali didn't catch me on the descent from Croix de Fer. Afterwards, when a champion like him decides to go... Nibali has won the three Grand Tours, and it is not a shame to be beaten by him. I promised myself to give my all in the Alps. Tomorrow is 110km, very intense, and it will be hard."