'I'm racing to win a stage' - Vauquelin shelves Tour de France GC aim

One of the revelations of the race so far, Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), has prioritised winning a stage over maintaining his sixth place in the general classification as the Tour de France enters its second week.

"We have one goal, it's a stage victory," said Vauquelin to L'Equipe on Tuesday's rest day, revealing his key ambitions for the remainder of the race.

"We have a goal, and we still haven't reached it, a stage victory. With me, but also with all the teammates. To be in the top 10 overall in the Tour de France is huge, it's such a demanding race."

"But I would almost prefer to be 11th after having made a very good breakaway, perhaps having won a stage, than to be 8th after just following for two weeks," Vauquelin admitted.

The 24-year-old Frenchman has made a brilliant start to the Tour, having sat 3rd in the general classification after nine stages, and worn the white jersey for three stages. Vauquelin's current sixth place in the general classification wasn't part of the original plan, but he is more than happy with how the race has gone so far. "No, I wouldn't have believed it," he admitted when asked about his high position in the standings. 

"I was hoping to have a good start to the Tour, we were aiming for stage wins with the team and in the end, everything got a bit messed up. It was by racing for the win that I found myself in a very good position for the general classification. It was a bonus," he added.

The second week features three tough stages in the Pyrenees, and although Vauquelin acknowledged the difficulty of the mountains, he is confident that he can have another positive week, even if his GC position fades, because he will look to get in the breakaway to fight for a stage win.

"I'm going to race to win a stage, and we'll see how it goes. Today, I'm still perhaps too close in the general classification to be able to play. The course is going to be difficult now, there's also a time trial on the climb. If things go less well one day, I might decide to pick myself up, and then I might have a chance in the breakaways," said Vauquelin.

"Opportunities will be relatively rare in the coming days. Being a leader is always a good way to build momentum. It allows you to be more demanding and have a more legitimate position in the standings. Yesterday [stage 10], I fought until the end because I was third overall. [If I were] 15th, I might not have made the same effort," he added.

"We'll see how my legs recover. I'm enjoying my legs day by day because I don't know when they'll stop."

The start to the Tour de France has been particularly special for Vauquelin and Arkéa-B&B Hotels, as the race has covered their home roads in Northern France, with the 24-year-old from Normandy, riding for a Breton team. Vauquelin was determined to make a mark on home roads, and it's fair to say he has been successful. Stage 6 even started in his birth-town of Bayeux. 

"I was keen to arrive on my home turf, in Normandy, at my parents' house, with no regrets about how the first week went, and that's what happened, I was very satisfied with the sensations," said Vauquelin. "Physically, I'm really good. The previous races allowed me to be even better."

Vauquelin has also admitted the boost that the support of the crowds has given him during the opening ten stages, describing it as "a football stadium atmosphere where you have to give, because they give."

"They're the ones who push me, who got me to where I am on the first rest day," Vauquelin added.

It's a much-needed boost that the crowds have provided for the Frenchman, who also admitted that he is starting to feel the fatigue, and the rest day was a very welcome sight. 

"On the first rest day, the fatigue is a bit noticeable. My legs were a bit stiff and tired yesterday [stage 10], and my body is a bit empty. A lot has happened emotionally and physically. We have to manage our recovery," said Vauquelin.