Alejandro with the favourites in the Pyrenees

Alejandro Valverde’s quotes after the finish of the 16th stage of the Tour de France:

“We knew that it was a stage where we had to make the break, because it had many chances to stay away until the finish. We didn’t expect it to be so big, but we got three team-mates in and we couldn’t do much better behind. Moving the bunch to try and make the front was going to be in vain, so our only goal from that point was sticking to the main favourites. There, the feelings were good and that gives me moral for tomorrow. As well Juanjo as myself did great and that makes us confident to chase for the win. The legs are really much better here than in the Alps. At the end, your body takes time to recover from the blows, and that paid off for me there.”