Samu comments

After his brilliant ride to 2nd place today, and 3rd overall, Samu Sánchez talked to www.fundacioneuskadi.com. Here`s what the captain had to say: "Unfortunately there`s not much to say. I suffered from not eating enough. During the stage I collected drink, food, glucose tubes and that sort of food, but I never found the moment to eat it. In the end the effort I did caught up with me, and I lost time the last kilometres. We (the team) attacked from the beginning, and in the end I reached the line. It seemed for a while that I was not going to make it, it felt like instead of going forward I went backwards. The guys in the car never stopped encouraging me, but when there`s nothing left to give, there`s nothing I can do". On the team`s performance, he said: "The tactics of the team have been spectacular. I believe we had a good day, and I`m sure it pleased the fans. We`ve been in most breaks, I attacked in the last inclines of the Agiña and I gave it my all in the descent from the Agiña and the Aritxulegi. Mikel Astarloza has done a phenomenal job. He helped me to the Jaizkibel, and there, he did an amazing job for me. If we want to win this race we have to take risks. I think the Basque spectators must have been proud of their team today, as we`ve been both brave and ambitious. We came to win this race, and today we proved it. I had the race in my hands, but I lost it. The understanding in the break has been good. Though, at the beginning of the Jaizkibel I had some doubts over wether Cobo was giving it his all. I even spoke to his sports director to tell him that this was a break to the benefit of both of us, that we had to give it a try. And once we reached the top of the Jaizkibel, the understanding between us was perfect. But, already in the first part of the Erlaitz, I think that Cobo realised that I didn`t feel super, so he upped the pace and went solo. From then on I just tried to get to the line anyway I could". He also had some words of praise for winner, Juanjo Cobo: "I want to congratulate Cobo on his fantastic ride, and also I would like to congratulate Saunier Duval on a magnificent race". Looking ahead to tomorrow`s ITT, he said: "The objective tomorrow will be to win the stage, as if I do that, I`ll be sure of a podium place. I hope that I won`t feel today`s effort in my body tomorrow". He also found time to praise his team: "I think the whole team has done a really good race. We`ve been very active, and a win would surely be a fitting reward for all the hard work. We`ve prepared well, and we`re giving it our all, but we`re just not able to turn it into a win. We`ll see tomorrow if we can win the stage and make the podium: that would be important for the team, and, no doubt, deserved.