Green jersey wearer Mark Cavendish said he was just glad that the Pyrenean peak of Col du Tourmalet was behind him after battling through Stage 12.
"I hate it!" the Manxman smiled, before adding: "The stage wasn't too bad today, we dropped a bit on the first climb - it was a case of getting through it."
And with plenty more mountains to climb before Paris, Cavendish said it was just a matter of holding points competition rival Philippe Gilbert at bay.
"I'll just keep plugging away," he stated.
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