Thibaut Pinot has gone into the Vuelta a Espana with no GC ambitions but the first few days have been a lot harder than expected for the French climber. His FDJ team admits that he is suffering and hopes to see him bounce back later in the race.

Having finished on the podium in the Tour de France, Thibaut Pinot lined up at the Vuelta a Espana with the goal of taking a stage win and winning the mountains jersey. However, he fell ill just before the start and since then he has been suffering at the back of the peloton.

Yesterday he was again one of the first riders to get dropped in the tough stage 4.

"Thibaut suffered," sports director Franck Pineau said. "He needs a little time to find a good feeling. He dones't like the hot weather and so the heat doesn't do him any good. He finished on the podium in the Tour but has not raced since. Everything he can get from this race is a bonus. We don't ask him to do anything at the moment even though he was here to help Kenny Elissonde. Currently, he is struggling and we just leave him alone."

For the GC, FDJ is riding in support of Kenny Elissonde who finished with the best in stage 4.

"I just had to follow the group," he said, "There were no attacks, but with the heat there was a selection. This was not a great mountain and the effort was a short one. 60 riders arrived at the finish but the level is very high. There are 50 good climbers. Like anybody else I suffer in the heat but I like it more than the cold."