By John Trevorrow in Ortisei
Rory Sutherland (Rabobank, 82nd at 31'23)
How was it? "Can I really say? F***ing hard. Unbelievable. I think they found every climb in Italy today. Tomorrow we've got to do it again."
You look OK.. "I'm not OK, I'm screwed. I think it's pretty normal when you race for seven and a half hours. I looked at my computer and we had climbed for 5500 metres of climbing. I'm not trying to whinge about it but it gets a bit ridiculous. You could do half the climbs and have the same result. Now you just make people pull out of the race and that's a shame.
"But it's a good experience and that's what I'm here for - the future and to get a better base for next time.
Antonio Cruz (Discovery, 83rd at 31'23)
Was it harder than expected? "Yeah it was. It felt like we did ten climbs not five. I feel the best of all the climbing days, but that's probably because Paolo has taken the jersey. But we will have our work cut out for us now."
Christian Vandevelde (CSC, 108th at 36'36)
Tough day out there? "Yeah I'll say. What happened up there?" Savoldelli took the jersey from Basso by about 50 seconds. "50, oh that's a little disappointing, not what I thought it was. But there is still some climbing, still some nasty stages to go - like tomorrow."
Russell Van Hout (Selle Italia, 114th at 36'36)
"It was so hard out there all day that I didn't get to eat. I'm so hunger flat and finished - completely finished. I gave about 150%."
Trent Wilson (Selle Italia, 152nd at 41'56)
"Don't touch me. I've got skin off everywhere."
Did you fall on a descent? "No, 15 km from the finish I went back to get a coke, took the coke off my director and touched the brake and I went down. Somersaulted across the road and hit the guard rail. Actually went under it. Henk saw it and thought I would have broken my arm or something. He said I went down like a sack of crap.
"Other than that it was just a hard day. I felt alright early but just joined the gruppetto when it formed."
Mark Renshaw (Francaise des Jeux, 153rd at 41'56)
"Bloody long day - seven and a half hours. Probably the longest, hardest mountain day I've ever had. It's going to be good to get a massage and get some food, but tomorrow is going to be hard again so I've got to try and get through tomorrow."
Brett Lancaster (Panaria, 155th at 41'56)
"I went hunger flat five times today. It is one of the hardest stages I've ever done. Bronchitis isn't too good, got a real sore throat. Hopefully I can come up for tomorrow and if I can then I can finish the tour."
Henk Vogels (Davitamon-Lotto, 166th at 42'41)
"Crashed and banged my knee and now it's killing me. I felt fine before that, but I had to finish on a spare bike. Hopefully Leon (brother and physio) can fix me up tonight."
