Alejandro Valverde may have lost a bit of time in the last few mountain stages but the Spaniard is going into tomorrow's final Tour de France time trial full of confidence. Despite being up against a specialist like Jean-Christophe Peraud, he still believes that he can take second place in the race.

One of the most dreadful Tours in recent years when it comes to weather conditions as well as racing pace, left again no room to relax on the day prior to the long-awaited TT - 54 kilometers finishing in Périgueux - which will decide the overall podium. Alejandro Valverde and his seven Movistar team-mates still on course covered with attention and no serious problems the flat route, yet under thunderstorms, narrow roads and small climbs, leading to Bergerac (209km). Lithuanian Ramunas Navardauskas (GRS) profited from a late attack up Monbazillac (Cat-4) to win solo.

The only real fright of the day for the telephone squad, apart from several punctures that affected the whole bunch, was a crash with 2.5km to go which held up John Gadret and brought down Beñat Intxausti. The Basque climber suffered some bruises on his right knee, yet was perfectly able to cross the finish line.

Valverde, Gadret and Jesús Herrada will do a final recon by car this evening - Valverde  already tested the course on his bike back in June- to check all details of a TT where he (4th) will try to get back from a 15-second deficit to Thibaut Pinot (FDJ, 2nd), with Jean-Christophe Péraud (ALM, 3º) just 2" ahead of the Spaniard.

"Everyone could see it on TV and can imagine how it's been like today, no real rest," he said. "It was 200k under full rain; even though it's true it wasn't really could out there, spending so much time on the bike getting drenched in rain, on stressful, dangerous roads - it makes you reach the finish dead tired. Still, we stayed up-front all day and got through the crash well.

"I already know tomorrow's time trial. I trained here in June and we'll check it again this evening to remember all details before the racing. It's a demanding one: 54km, with small slopes - anything can happen.

"You can't get crazy about GC time gaps on the bike: you just give your 100%, go flat out... just like that. I have performed well in TT's this season, I became Spanish champion last month, and I think I can do well. I have good legs and would like to go for both third and second place. I might stay with what I have right now at the end, but I'm confident: I think I can do well.

"Tomorrow is a very important day for me. I'm looking for the second place as I'm only a few seconds behind Peraud and Pinot, it's going to be a great fight. I think Peraud is a better specialist than Pinot. Well' see. With more than 50 km, its' a long and demanding time trial. I'm confident and I hope it's going to work out. I already checked it but I'm going back to see it again."