With a third place on today’s stage, Peter Sagan (Cannondale) kept his losses to a minimum, and still has a 96-point lead in the points classification. He wants to carry the green jersey all the way to Paris, but he also wants to win another stage.

“I was a bit unlucky today, but I’m happy with the result,” the Slovak said. “A third place is pretty good for me in order to keep the green jersey. But with regard to the stage win, I am a little frustrated because I thought I was on the right wheel by following Mark Cavendish. I try to win every day! Yesterday, against the clock, was a big challenge for me. It may be the reason why I didn’t win today.”

“I’m happy to have spent one more day without trouble. I was close to crashing in the final [just inside 3 km to go]. But what upsets me more is what happened at the intermediate sprint. I do not understand why Kris Boeckmans put me into the barriers. That is not normal! He isn’t in the race for the points classification. The sprint was already well underway and there was a crosswind. I yelled for him not to make me fall.”

“Something can happen every day. I have to think about saving my skin first. I will be aiming to win the stage tomorrow, but my main goal is to keep the green jersey every day.”