By Jamie Finch-Penninger?? @FishysCP
Simon Gerrans (Orica-Greenedge), Stage winner, Leader?s jersey wearer: ?We were hoping to win the stage today, ideally with myself or with Caleb. We knew the run-in was a little bit selective, so it was touch and go whether Caleb was going to be there? unlucky for Caleb that he wasn?t there, but it worked out perfectly for me to get the win and a few extra bonus seconds. So far with the support of my team, it?s all going to plan. It?s not an unbeatable lead for sure, Willunga Hill?s a tough one, and we?ve seen the jersey change hands there a number of times. We?ve still definitely got our work cut out for us tomorrow. It?s not in my interest to attack at all, I?ve really got to defend this jersey and it?s up to those other guides to drop me and put some time into me on the climb. The margin I had going into the stage today, it would have been really tough to win the Tour with that kind of buffer, so to get those extra seconds today is a step in the right direction.?
Jay McCarthy (Tinkoff), 2nd overall: ?The team helped me to go for the bonus seconds at the start there, and Gerro got me on the line. The climb with 20 km to go made it difficult, obviously I was in a good position coming in, so I thought I?d try again. Obviously Gerro was faster on the line, but I was there, it wasn?t like I wasn?t trying. Tomorrow, it?s a hard climb, but hopefully I have a good recovery tonight and go through it again tomorrow. I?ve been climbing with the best of them so far, so hopefully I have some good legs for tomorrow. I think I?ve definitely proved to a lot of people that I have what it takes to give it a go, it?s good for my confidence, not just for this race but hopefully for the future I can do the same thing.?
Richie Porte (BMC), 10th overall: ?It is a big margin, he?ll have to have good legs to get up there, but it is quite a comfortable lead. And then even for the criterium, if it comes to that he?s shown that he has what it takes to pop off the front and grab some more seconds. The thing with Willunga is it?s not that long of a climb, and it?s not the hardest either, if we drop him he can just ride his own tempo and it?s never going to be a massive gap there. But that doesn?t mean that we?re not going to try. The harder it is the better, if it gets hard through the stage and we hit the climb with tired legs, that?s good for me.?
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