Poor time trial, but third place is not so bad

What is going through your mind straight after the race?Above all, I feel disappointed. The gaps very really narrow and I knew that if was going to do well I´d take the win but if I was going to mess up, I´d finish third overall. Unfortunately, the latter prediction became fulfilled.What was the problem?I couldn’t find my racing rhythm. Everything was going wrong from the start where I felt that my legs were not turning the way I wanted. I wasn’t able to gather pace and keep it for some time. It was a bad time trial for me. My mind wanted very badly but my legs were completely stiff. In addition, I couldn’t find my ideal position on the bike. This is the way it happened. Nibali and Horner were simply better than me today and all I can do is to congratulate them.Are you happy about the third position?After all, I clinched a podium spot at a ProTour race that is comparable to the Paris-Nice. It is my first stage race of this season and this result carries definitely a considerable weight. Besides, it is always hard to race at the beginning of the season when everyone is well prepared and full of energy. After some time I will realize the importance of this result and I will be happy about it. I just feel bad that I didn’t take a stage victory, at least, because the team would definitely deserve it for the job well done. How do you assess your first stage race of the 2012 season with regard to Giro?I can look positively on the race except for the today’s time trial which tarnished the overall look but other than that, I proved to be on the right track. It is clear that I have improved at riding over short hills and I had no problem keeping up in long climbs, either. Nonetheless, I need to work on my time trial skills. This year’s Giro doesn’t include many of them but they can be decisive, anyway.What are you up to in the upcoming days?I´m going to spend some in the Czech Republic, I´m going to take a few days off. Then I will start softly riding again but beginning next week I will get back to full practice swing. Next Friday I am flying to Tenerife for a two-week high altitude camp, which is the final preparation for Giro.7th stage (time trial – 9.3 km): 1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi/RadioShack-Nissan) 10:36, 2. Daniele Bennati (Ita/RadioShack-Nissan) +12, 3. Cameron Meyer (Aus/GreenEdge), 4. Svein Tuft (Can/GreenEdge), 5. Manuele Boaro (Ita/Saxo Bank)  +16, … 9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Liquigas) +20, 45. Chris Horner (USA/ RadioShack-Nissan) +40, 53. Roman Kreuziger (Cze/Astana) +47.General classification: 1. Nibali 29:38:08, 2. Horner +14, 3. Roman Kreuziger +26, 4. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita/AG2R) +53, 5. Johnny Hoogerland (Ned/Vacansoleil) +1:00, 6. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) +1:16.