Phillip Gaimon (Garmin-Sharp) had hoped to defend his leader's jersey in yesterday's time trial in the Tour de San Luis but came up short when he was beaten by Nairo Quintana (Movistar). Despite being disappointed with the outcome, the American remained pragmatic, admitting that he didn't know what to expect before his first time trial at the highest level.

Phillip Gaimon has had a dream start to his professional career after winning his very first race on the first stage of the Tour de San Luis and wearing the leader's jersey for several day. However, all things come to an end and yesterday he was pushed down into 2nd by Nairo Quintana's in the race's 19,2km flat time trial in San Luis.

After winning stage 1 and putting more than 4 minutes into the race favourites, Gaimon had believed that he could win the race but after being firmly left behind by Quintana in Thursday's mountain stage, he admitted to have had a reality check. Hence, he went into the time trial a bit more cautious and was not too disappointed to have lost the lead, knowing that it would have been very hard to defend on today's final mountain stage of the race.

"I had no idea how I would time trial compared to these guys," he saud. "I felt all right. I haven't done a whole lot of stage races this long so I was kind of fatigued, but I didn't blow up. I know I used everything up at the end."

Gaimon remains in 2nd overall, 26 seconds behind Quintana, but still has a 1.35 buffer over 3rd-placed Sergio Godoy (San Luis) going into today's summit finish on the brutally steep Mirador del Sol climb.

The race ends on Sunday with a stage expected to suit the sprinters.