Another time-trial, but this time it's a lot longer. Hopefully I can put in a good performance and stay in touch with the Top 10 in the GC.

Today was a big day for me. I'd already shown what I could do in hilly time-trials, but what about the flat ones.


My time at the first check was 53" behind the lead. I was - provisionally of course - 59th. Not good at all.


I improved greatly at the 2nd check. This time 29th, but 2'04 off the lead.


At the final time-check, I went down again, but only as far as 35th. I had lost a minute in that section, now 3'07 back.


I went all in for the finish, and came through in 27th at 3'42.

Not a bad day at all, but I slipped down the rankings to 38th, which isn't to bad, but again I'll need to have a look at this discipline.

The final situation will all depend on the pace of the peloton up the middle climbs. The breakaway will probably take another win.

Hoping I was right were 8 riders who compromised today's break.


Andrei Amador tried to get away on the downhill after the HC climb. At this point the peloton had broken, with 50 in the first group - including most riders from our team.


Our good positioning proved very helpful, as it didn't look like the next group would have any chance of catching up. With 4'10 just 25km out from the finish, the breakaway would - as expected - take the win.


In a rather close sprint, it was Le Mevel (BSE) taking the win ahead of Bakelants and Goos.


We made a good train, with Jarlinson my leadout man.


Cancellara was the best in the group, while despite sprinting under the Flamme Rouge, we all finished with a lot of energy.

Not much to comment about today. No GC contenders lost time, but tomorrow will be huge. Hopefully I can keep up on the high slopes leading up to Morzine.

Today is big. The GC will be decided in the next (and last) 2 stages. Hopefully I can stay with the leaders up the Col de Joux-Plane.

Today was a very strange stage, made so mostly by the first half. Joaquim Rodriguez and Vincenzo Nibali of all people, tried several times to get into the break of the day. Of course the other teams wouldn't stand for this, and had to chase them back. Because of this, there were only 87 riders in the peloton after just 20km.


Eventually there was a 3 man break, and somehow it contained Rodriguez. And if that wasn't enough, half of the 2 man chase group was Bradley Wiggins (TST).

Jarlinson had a puncture, but was safe.


Heading up a huge gradient, I was blocked by Zaugg (BMC), who made it all but impossible to follow Esteban. At this point, my legs wanted to give up, but my heart said something else. I continued to soldier on, but this event had taken its toll.


We missed the first cut, and it looked like we would be languished in the middle again.


In fact, I was way back. I couldn't believe it, but it was true. Esteban continued to soldier on further up though.


In the end he was the better mountaineer, and stayed in a group with Contador and Yellow Jersey wearer van Garderen.


Then I was dropped by the next group. The mountains weren't working in my favour, and I was starting to have doubts about a good performance at Le Tour.


Of course Purito took the win, but our focus was behind that.


With just 2km to go, Bradley Wiggins takes a tumble directly in front of Grp. Chaves.


And our boy outsprints his companions to take a very well deserved 7th.


Later on, Steve Morabito outsprinted me to the lucrative position of 32nd.

I'm really starting to have doubts over where my career is going. Yes I can do hilly time-trials very well, but not flat ones. Yes I can climb hills very well, but not mountains. Ever since La Fleche Wallone I've been thinking about this. Is my place as an Ardennes winner, or can I still turn my career back on the path I want it to be? Don't get me wrong, winning an Ardennes classic would be a dream come true, but, if you've been following me the whole way, then you'll know that's not where I want my career to be headed.

I might be able to keep up here, but it could be a gamble.

Today there was a 4 rider breakaway.


Unfortunately the gradients were too tough for me again. However, Esteban was doing well.


The break would win, and while some favourites were ahead, Esteban was beating most, although he was tiring. Meanwhile, I was catching the group behind.


Our main man caught up to Froome and Purito.


I was able to catch the rest of the favourites.


Eventually Grp. Chaves also caught Amador and Contador. This would be the battle for 5th.


Jan Bakelants took a very good win, ahead of Lars Petter Nordhaug.


Soon after, Esteban was a couple of centimetres off taking 5th.


And I finished in the group after that.

Good day for the team, and a nice way to end here. Unlucky Esteban isn't riding the Tour, but we can be very happy with his result.

Darwin did a decent job in Switzerland, but not great.

Esteban was good in Slovenia, but arguably could've done better.



Jagoba did well in the Spanish Championships, finishing in the main group behind solo winner Contador.



The team's main race, quite possibly, where Robinson did quite well to get 3rd.

Next time I see you it qill be from Le Tour .