"When Nairo attacked, I simply didn't have the legs to follow" - Michael Storer recognizes superior in Nairo Quintana on a stage through Mortirolo

While some found eternal glory at the stage through Mortirolo and Foscagno, with finish on ski slope Mottolino near famous winter sport center Livigno, others suffered through one of the hardest mountain stages in recent Grand tour history. One from the latter group was Michael Strorer.

The Tudor Pro Cycling rider's stage started exactly as the Australian envisioned, jumping across to the breakaway which had a realistic shot at a stage win, even if race leader Tadej Pogacar declared he didn't plan to take any victims in a region that's special to Slovenian's heart.

Yet that alone wouldn't have been a hindrance for Storer who, in case of a good performance, could've still battled it out for a podium in Mottolino or, even better, challenge the Maglia Rosa. All that while making a noticeable leap in the general classification where Storer was sitting in nice 12th place after Saturday's timetrial, within a sight of top 10. Still, no hope is lost as Storer is only three minutes shy number 10 Jan Hirt, and a good breakaway effort could shake up the lower ranks of the GC.

But in the end it was Movistar's Nairo Quintana who rode the best stage among the breakaway riders in the high altitude. "When Nairo attacked, I simply didn't have the legs to follow. It was certainly one of the toughest stages I have done in my life," the Tudor man told Eurosport. "I had never ridden the Mortirolo before, which may have made it extra difficult."

In that original leading group, Storer seemed to be the best climber on paper and so many people had the idea that many were looking at the Australian. "The other guys may have been looking at me a bit, but actually the cooperation was quite good until the final climb," the climber himself said. "I don't think we've lost much in that area."