With Thibaut Pinot targeting stage wins, Kenny Elissonde was given the chance to ride for the overall in this year's Vuelta a Espana. However, a few time losses has prompted the Frenchman to change his objectives.

Kenny Elissonde went into the Vuelta a Espana as FDJ's GC rider but the Frenchman has not got the race off to a good start. In the explosive finish in stage 3, he lost his first chunk of time and he missed the split in the crosswinds two days later.

Yesterday he could only manage 21st in the first mountain stage and this has now prompted him to change his objectives.

"It was not a very long climb," he said. "4km is a short distance but it still made a difference and I was a bit isolated. My teammates did their job and I tried to position myself on mu own. That cost a lot of energy.

"I started the climb in 50th position. On the climb, I passed a lot of riders, in the last 500m I overtook 3. But I still lost a minute. I have gradually lost time and now the goal is a stage win. Hopefully, I will get a bit more freedom to attack. I have a good feeling that I will be able to do great things in the mountains."