BMC's Greg Van Avermaet has said that his first ever stage victory in a Tour De France means a lot to him.
Van Avermaet held off Peter Sagan to take the stage thirteen win in Rodez and told letour.com: "This victory means a lot to me. It's a big one. Finally I've made it after missing out on several occasions, especially at the classics.
"I came to the Tour to win a stage. I targeted the first week. Then I survived the Pyrenees with today's stage in mind and I've succeeded.
"At 200 metres to go, I felt someone was on my wheel but I didn't know who it was. When I realised it was Peter Sagan, I was hoping that he wouldn't come around me. The last one hundred metres was very long but I'm happy that I stayed away.
"I certainly don't have any advice for Sagan as I have the same problems as him. It's difficult to win at this level. The only advice is too keep trying. Sagan remains one of the hardest riders to beat. I have a big respect for him. It's nice for cycling to have a rider like him.
"I'm maybe not the guy who wins twenty races a year but I'm always aiming at six or seven victories every season.
"I'm at four this year and there's still a long season ahead. I could have done better. The classics will always be my number one goal. The level of my win today will give me the confidence I need for the future.
Race leader Chris Froome said: "It could have been an easier day but it was a mad dash in the last 40km as sprinters' teams panicked when they realised they might not catch the breakaway.
"I've seen very tired legs in the bunch, given the last three stages we've just done.
"Many people were hoping for an easy day but it didn't happen. The heat was close to 40°. We were asking for bidons and there wasn't enough.
"In a day like this, I'd like to feel safe at the 3km to go mark and then give way to the sprinters but in the finale, everyone wanted to be at the front: lead out men for their sprinter, team-mates of GC riders, then it was chaos at the bottom of the final climb.
"All you need is one GC guy to go to the front and everyone has to go up there as well.
"Typical sprinters want more opportunities but I don't have any complaints about the route. Seeing that even today some riders have tried to attack me in a short climb like this, it means they'll try more tomorrow. Mende is a 3-km climb where big gaps can be expected. Hopefully I'll get through without any major problem."
Pierre-Luc Périchonsaid: "I knew I had good capacity for recovery, my coach told me often, and this first half of my first Tour de France appears to confirm.
"So, after three days back in the Pyrenees, I wanted to go to. but I came across five machines! de Gendt, I do not know, but what force. it's complicated to take a relay behind him, he thinks he is recovering but still traveling at the same speed!
"That was on top of being with Alexandre Geniez. we went to his village, he knew the road by heart, he drove us all day. No regrets, I was the lowest of the six. but you learn so much on a breakaway in the Tour."