Jerome Cousin (Europcar) probably missed out on the biggest win of his career in today's stage of the Vuelta a Espana. The Frenchman looked like the strongest rider in the front trio when a touch of wheels with Ilya Koshevoy brought his dreams of winning the stage to an abrupt end.

"A great victory missed me narrowly after a year of suffering. Santa Claus needs to give me smaller wheels for the rest of the Vuelta," he tweeted after the stage.

"One second of inattention cost @CousinJerom the victory. He is very disappointed as is the rest of the team. We will try again tomorrow," his teammate Jimmy Engoulvent tweeted.

GC riders Fabrice Jeandesboz and Romain Sicard limited their losses by finishing 23rd and 29th respectively.