The most dreaded stage of the Tour is over and, as expected, the general classification has changed significantly. During the 213 km stage between Wanze and Arenberg Ivan Basso and Roman Kreuziger had a rough and violent encounter with the French/Belgian cobblestone sections. The front group with Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin), Gerraint Thomas (Sky), Cadel Evans (BMC), Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) and Team Saxo Bank's Fabian Cancellara and Andy Schleck reached the finish line where the Norwegian sprinter took the win.

In the general classification Basso is in 49th place with 03:20 minutes to the leader Cancellara, with a gap of 50 seconds with Armstrong, 02:31 minutes from Wiggings and Menchov, 01:40 minutes to Contador, 02:11 minutes to Andy Schleck and 02:41 minutes to Evans.

"It's been an extremely demanding day," Basso said. "But we expected it. I can't see it as a positive day, but it's also not too negative. I've had worse times in my career, for example in this year's Giro d'Italia. I'm smiling now for coming home physically safe, but I'm not so happy with losing a bit of time. Unfortunately, my ride was delayed because of a crash of Frank Schleck that happened just a couple of meters in front of me. I started a new race trying to catch up with groups ahead.

Unfortunately my teammates Daniel Oss and Manuel Quinziato each had a flat tyre and it took away two important support riders at the end. Oss, 23, was a revelation of Gent-Wevelgem when I finished fifth and Quinziato, my experienced compatriot from the Trentino in the north of Italy, is Liquigas' best rider on the pavé in the Spring classics. We need a bit more luck in the coming stages. I take note of today's result and I look ahead. In a couple of days in the Alps, I'll find a terrain that suits my characteristics better than today's. I'm very confident to get back the time I lost today."