"That was the hardest day of my career," writes T-Mobile's young Bernhard Kohl. "After 40 kilometres we had an average speed of 50 km per hour, and that despite one mountain. I had to fall back on the first climb and forced myself up with five others. In the descent we somehow caught up with the field, but I fell back again on the next climb. Somehow I managed to get to the top, alone in the middle of the team autos, and reached the gruppetto. I was dizzy, and could barely stay on the bike. But I forced myself and reached the finish with the gruppetto.
"On the first ascent, I thought that the Vuelta was over for me. For the first time I had doubts as to whether I would make it to Madrid. Tomorrow is another mountain stage, which I hope to somehow survive. The worst thing today was a sign along the road: Madrid, 80 km. Our goal is so close but we must still go through four stages before we get there. But I will give everything I have. I absolutely want to make it to Madrid." (bernhardkohl.at)
