The slower race today was not a surprise really after the big battles we have seen over the last forty eight hours. The escape, though, took a long time to break free of the main field. It had to be the right combination, and once it got clear, they built a big lead.

Funny how history repeats itself. On this very same stage in 2002 after two stages in the mountains to La Mongie and Le Plateau de Beille, an eleven-man breakaway succeeded.

It was to be expected that one of the time trial specialists would break free towards the end. Although the man who set up the moves was Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, it was another Gonzalez who took up the reins – Aitor, the former winner of the Vuelta a Espana.

Once he had fifty meters they were never going to pull him back. He got the win for Spain that they had been looking for in the mountains. The rest of the race lost a big chunk of time, but it did nothing to the overall classification.

The riders get a well earned rest day tomorrow before the racing resumes on the mountains the day after tomorrow.