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Interviews
Marcus Fothen – "This can all change tomorrow..."
After the first 10 stages of his debut Tour Marcus Fothen continues to lead the youth classification. The Gerolsteiner rider is in 13th place overall, significantly higher than the team captain Levi Leipheimer but the commitment to the original cause remains: to work for the American... the white jersey is, however, a good consolation prize.
“Today was really tough and there were times that I just had to ride my own race and not panic. I was dropped by the main pack but found my rhythm again a few kilometers later. It’s great to finish a mountain stage of the Tour de France and still have this jersey.
“The white jersey is a good reward but my priority is still to help Levi whenever I can. That was what I came to the Tour to do and I’m going to honor that commitment.
“The atmosphere is amazing here. It’s the dream of every rider to be part of this race and it’s a pleasure to be in the lead of a classification. I know that this can all change tomorrow because it’s a very difficult stage but my intention is simple: to do everything I can for Levi and, with any luck, still be there at the finish.â€
Juan Miguel Mercado – "I knew I could win a stage..."
The only wildcard team in the 2006 Tour de France have something to celebrate after the 10th stage. Agritubel’s hopes at the start of the race were with Juan Miguel Mercado and in Pau he proved his worth by outsprinting his escape companion Cyril Dessel to win the stage.
“The truth is I was the strongest of the escape group today and I knew that I could improve my position in the overall standings and win a stage. Dessel wanted to get the polka-dot jersey and the yellow jersey and was prepared to negotiate but I didn’t want to; I preferred to take my chances.
“I think I was stronger in the last kilometer and I gave it everything in final sprint. A victory is a victory and it’s difficult to compare it the stage I won in Lons-le-Saunier. It was really difficult to get into the right escape group this morning because the peloton was reacting to every move. It was great to be in the right one but it was important to push on with the effort until we knew that the bunch wouldn’t chase anymore.â€
Cyril Dessel – “I saw that Mercado was the man to focus on…â€
The first real mountain stage of the 2006 Tour de France provided Cyril Dessel with a chance to go on the attack. He joined Juan Miguel Mercado and 11 others in a move that scampered clear of the peloton after an hour of racing, then collected first-place points at each summit. The polka-dot jersey is his reward but so too the ’maillot jaune’ of overall leader. It was a tough day at work, but the rewards are significant.
“Today the plan was to try and slip away into an escape group and it eventually came together with 12 other riders involved. It’s true that you have to have good legs to be in the right move but a bit of luck is also useful. That’s what happened and I really felt strong today.
“On the first climb, I saw that Mercado was the man to focus on because it was clear that he was the rider with the best form in the breakaway group. I always tried to stay with him and really had to make myself suffer but I knew it was the right strategy to employ. We were joined on the descent of the Col de Soudet by Landaluze, Isasi and Rinero and together we worked well as we rode through the valley.
“On the final descent we had to work hard to stay ahead of Landaluze because he was coming back at us quickly.
“I wanted to try and win the stage but Mercado knew what he had to do, he stayed on my wheel and launched his sprint a long way from the line and although I tried, I had no answer. I missed the stage win but it was a fantastic day.
From here I can focus on the climbing classification and enjoy the time I get to spend in the yellow jersey.â€
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Wednesday 12 July 2006 
