Sanchez feels top five Tour finish in reach

Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) limited his losses on the stage to Arenberg that took out an important general classification contender in Saxo Bank's Fränk Schleck. The Basque rider, inexperienced on the cobbles, was relieved the stage was over and happy to have finished it in 37th position, 2:08 minutes down on stage winner Thor Hushovd.