Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins declared himself "delighted" with his time trial display on the penultimate stage of the Tour de France.
"The weather played a massive part in the result, but I am very happy with the way I rode."
Bradley Wiggins
Wiggins - and the other riders in the top 50 on the general classification - had much the worse of the weather during the 52km route due north from Bordeaux to Pauillac.
Conditions had been calm early on, during which period favourite Fabian Cancellara and Tony Martin set marks which were to see them finish well ahead of the field.
But later when the leading 50 riders on the GC went out they had to battle a strong headwind and 24th-placed Wiggins was the only one who managed to make the top 10 on the day, finishing in ninth, 3:33 down on Cancellara.
Alberto Contador, who would normally be expected to challenge in time trials, was down in 35th, though his display was still more than enough to seal the yellow jersey.
Worst of the weather
Wiggins said afterwards: "I'm delighted to finish the way I have.
"The weather played a massive part in the result, but I am very happy with the way I rode.
"I feel like I've finished on a high, which I'm pleased with."
The impact the conditions made was underlined by team principal Dave Brailsford who said in his daily Tour de France blog: "I think the wind was the story today, it made a massive difference. In the morning there wasn't much and then as the day went on it really got up and turned into a headwind.
You only have to look at the results - all the guys who went out last were significantly slower; normally someone like Contador would be right up there to win that time trial yet he came in 35th.
It puts Brad's performance into real context because he was the only person from the top 50 on the GC to make the top 10 in today's time trial.
It was a storming ride but it's just the fact that the wind got up, it's simple as that."
Wiggins had ambitions of being the first Briton on the Tour podium this year but now he will refocus on the 2011 Tour.
The 30-year-old added: "I think considering this is our first Tour the team have come a long way.
"It's been a huge learning curve and we'll take a lot away from it, make some changes and come back next year stronger."
