Kenny Elissonde (FDJ) continued his aggressive riding style in the Vuelta a Espana when he made it into the 24-rider group that decided stage 13.

"With the wind, it was good to be 24," he said. "I don't know when Nelson went. It was chaotic. It was attacking from all sides. We worked well together during the stage but in the end everybody was tired. I don't know when he went. It was a solid attack. When he took 50 seconds, he's such a strong rider, it was finished.

"I go up in the GC, I don't know how much but to ride like this every day I will end up having a bad day. I was afraid of the small roads and the headwind and I told myself I would be better off in the front than in the peloton. It was the right choice. I love to ride in the front. You take great pleasure riding like that."