I want to fight for a victory in the Alps

“I was feeling better that yesterday but the group got away sooner than I had expected so I let it go. Also, I wanted to get myself together as far as my injured hand is concerned because it is not 100% yet. The team didn’t want me to get into a breakaway either because I wasn’t feeling strong. Today I kept up with the pack without difficulty but then I rode at my own pace on the final climb. I knew that the overall top contenders would ride fast and I just presently don’t have the ability to handle their pace,” Roman said.He is not giving in, though. “I will have a go in the Alps. I still want to take a stage victory. I will pick a stage and go for it. This is my objective and I believe I will make it,” added the Astana´s rider.He was reluctant to comment on the fight for the front positions. “Voeckler holds on to the yellow jersey quite easily but one day he will crack, I think. Even so, I think he will give the other riders hard time. It is obvious that the Alps will decide the race, the Pyrenees only gave a hint who is in shape and who is not.”Stage 14 (Saint-Gaudens – Plateau-de-Beille, 168.5 km): 1st Vanendert (Bel) 5:13:25, 2nd S. Sánchez (Spa) +21, 3rd A. Schleck (Lux) +46, 4th Evans (Aus), 5th Uran (Col), 6th Contador (Spa), 7th Voeckler (Fra), 8th F. Schleck (Lux), 9th Peraud, 10th Rolland (Fra) +48,… 74th Roman Kreuziger (Cze) +17:03.