Belgian Rik Verbrugghe (Quick.Step) described himself as satisfied with his ride in the prologue of the Dauphine Libéré, where he finished 13th at 16 seconds. "Three days ago the future looked gloomy because of my back pain," he was quoted by VRT Teletekst as saying. "I came here with not much heart. But this time trial has lifted my morale, especially because I rode during the last half an hour. Then there was a lot more wind than at the start. The wind gusts broke me. In the last three kilometres, it was a headwind, with 500 metres to go the light went out completely. Otherwise I would have certainly ended in the top ten."
