What a finish it was with the rain and Igor Astarloa falling just in front of you. Well it scared the hell out of me. I don't know how I did but somehow I managed to survive. It was a very exciting finish in the last 500m but I managed to win.
The key moment was when the CSC and Rabobank riders eased up the pace? I think that everybody knew that with 105 km to go , the CSC were going to try something and we (Rabobank) also wanted to be there in front. Then the group went smaller and smaller and smaller and there were finally only four guys left. It's good for the overall classification but first I wanted to try and win the race.
What about the overall standings? First I'm very happy to win this race. Paris-Tours my last success was one and a half years ago, so I'm very happy with this stage success. The overall is very important as well. Next week is the Tour of Flanders and the other classics and tomorrow morning the stage will look a lot like a shorter Liège-Bastoge-Liège. I'll do my best for the overall. I believe I'm in shape.
Another Dekker (Thomas) won here last year, this time it's you? Yes, but I'm the new Dekker... It's my last year in pro cycling and I want to have fun and act at the high level. This race is a big race.
What a finish it was with the rain and Igor Astarloa falling just in front of you. Well it scared the hell out of me. I don't know how I did but somehow I managed to survive. It was a very exciting finish in the last 500m but I managed to win.
The old rbr adrenaline theory works again (this proves that it works for close calls as well as falls) ?
