After a disappointing stage 9, FDJ goes into the first rest day of the Vuelta a Espana with mixed emotions. The team has managed to win two stages and Thibaut Pinot is showing improving condition but Kenny Elissonde has been suffering from the cold and is now out of GC contention.

FDJ went into the Vuelta a Espana with dual plans. Nacer Bouhanni and Thibaut Pinot were set to target stage wins and Kenny Elissonde would focus on the GC.

On the first rest day, the team is left with mixed emotions. By taking two stage wins, Bouhanni has lived up to expectations but nothing has gone right for Elissonde.

The tiny Frenchman usually suffers in cold condition and so the weather change has done only harmed his chances. Yesterday he finished in the gruppetto and the Frenchman has now changed his focus from the GC to stage wins.

"The cold hurts me," he said on the start line of yesterday's mountain stage. "I hope that it will get better as the stage goes on."

Anthony Roux had hopes to take his second Vuelta win in the race but the Frenchman crashed in the first week of the race and has been in a lot of pain. He hopes that the rest day will allow him to recover.

As opposed to this, Pinot is getting better. The Frenchamn fell sick a fe days before the start but he has now recovered. Yesterday he tried to join the break that made it to the finish, and even though he missed out, he is ready to go for the elusive victory in the final two mountainous weeks.

The team also has big expectations for Johan Le Bon who has been climbing really well and is in very good condition,