David Millar's Tour Diary

David Millar: "The Tour is all about living to fight another day." Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Week Four: August: 3

PARIS! I made it! And not only that I had a good Tour.

I’m really happy with how it went. I had a few tough days but overall I enjoyed it and I still feel good and fresh, ready for the rest of the season and especially the Vuelta in September.

The final week was tough with all the climbing in the Alps. I felt especially bad on the stage to La Plagne and my legs were killing me. Fortunately I recovered pretty well but that was a tough day.

I wanted to have a go on the stage Thor Hushovd won but they went away after just four kilometers. I was amazed and was just stuck in the peloton thinking about what could have been.

I was pleased with my fourth in the time trial. I could hardly speak afterwards because of going so hard in the heat but it was a damn hard 50 kilometers through the vineyards of Beaujolais. There was nowhere to hide.

As you might have noticed I enjoyed the last stage on the Champs-Elysées as well. I thought we had a chance until Raimondas Rumsas came across and forced ONCE to chase. He wasn’t too popular when we saw him and we told him so.

Now it’s time for some R&R in Biarritz before starting my build-up for the Vuelta. Don’t miss it, it’s going to be good.

Week Three: July 27

The Cofidis leader talks Cycling Weekly through his first road stage victory in the greatest race on earth.

THAT was cool, wasn’t it?

Winning that stage was a dream day for me. It was sublime and everything was perfect. I felt like I did in the 2001 Tour of Spain. I had that great feeling that I was going to win and that’s why I joked with the team and signed a piece of paper saying I would.

It was an incredible day, a long day but I was always in control and knew I wouldn’t lose the sprint.

There were some big names up there but none of them scared me. I knew Laurent Jalabert was tired after being in two long breaks, so we worked together. I helped him and he helped me. We’re good friends and I admire him a great deal.

With the stage win under my belt my Tour is going great. Winning was a real bonus but that’s what I came here to do. Contrary to what people may think, I’m not disappointed with how things went on the next day in the Pyrenees and on Mont Ventoux.

It’s true I’ve done a lot of training in the mountains but I didn’t have any real expectations for the overall in this race. I know it’s incredibly hard, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay with the climbers.

I lost ground a bit in the two weeks before the Tour started; I was ill at the Dauphiné and so I lost it mentally a bit. My riding in the mountains just shows that I’ve still got to work a lot if I want to do well in the Tour of Spain in September. That’s my next big objective now.

I’d hoped to avoid riding with the backmarkers, perhaps losing a few minutes each day instead, but there’s nothing you can do if you don’t have the legs, and it’s better to come in well down the field without killing yourself rather than riding hard to finish 15 minutes down instead of 40. The Tour is all about living to fight another day.

Compared to the last couple of years I’m actually feeling good and recovering well. I just haven’t got the top end to stay with the climbers, but I expected that, so I’m just cruising. I wanted to try to enjoy the Tour without getting too serious and worked up about it, and that’s what I’m doing. I don’t hide in the camper before the start but enjoy going to the village and signing autographs.

Week Two: July 20

The first half of the Tour flew by for Britain's David Millar. Now it's time for the mountains, he told Cycling Weekly magazine.

ONE week gone already and I’ve hardly noticed, it’s passed so quick.

One day we were in Luxembourg and then it seemed the next we were getting on a plane to head to the Pyrenees.

But I’ve enjoyed it as I hoped and I’m happy with how I’m going.

I’ve crashed three times, so hopefully that’s my lot for this Tour, but it’s all part of the race. Even Lance Armstrong isn’t immune to them.

I was a bit worried about a bruise just below my knee, but the day after I was fine and actually felt good. It’s a sign that I’m recovering well.

I was really happy for Bradley McGee when he won in Avranches. It was a tough uphill finish and he was the only one with the speed to attack like that near the finish.

Now it’s time for the mountains. I’m going to give it everything on the first stage to La Mongie and then take it from there. I still feel fresh, and not racing so much before the Tour seems to have worked.

I’m looking forward to the second half of the race.

On Sunday we’ve got the Ventoux. It’s a horrible climb and it’s going to be an epic stage because it’s over 220 kilometers.

Week One: July 13

Britain’s man for the Tour donned the white jersey after the prologue, but is taking things day by day, he told Cycling Weekly magazine.

WELL, here we go -- we’re off. There’s no turning back now.

To be honest I’m glad we’ve finally started racing and I’m glad I’ve got the prologue out of the way.

I was genuinely pleased to finish fifth; I wasn’t disappointed. Getting a place on the podium for the white jersey was good.

The team was pleased and that took a lot of pressure off.

I’m not sure how I’m going to be feeling in the first 10 days because I started feeling really fresh and I’ve raced so little this year.

I might struggle a bit, but it should mean I’ll still be good in the third week.

For now I’m taking things day by day, I’ll worry about the mountains when I get there.

As you may have seen I got the white jersey after the prologue, but even that isn’t a big objective.

I want to enjoy my racing. When you enjoy it, things go good.

I was happy for Laurent Jalabert. He did a great ride in the prologue, finishing so close to Lance Armstrong.

He’s a great champion; he’s got the biggest palmarès in the peloton. I like the way he does things. He’s probably my biggest role model in the sport.

I like the way he races, I like his style. He’s a top bloke as well and I respect him a lot.

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