Relinquishing the race leader’s red jersey wasn’t the only problem for Chris Horner (RadioShack-Leopard) as he negotiated Wednesday’s individual time trial on stage 11 of the Vuelta a España. With Horner’s successor in the red jersey, Astana leader Vincenzo Nibali, being stung by a bee yesterday, today it was Horner who had to deal with a wasp.

One of the insects got into Horner’s mouth during his race against the clock.

“I’m not happy but I’m satisfied. At the beginning of the race, I got a bee in my mouth. It was disturbing and scary. I couldn’t get it out. I also tried to swallow it. Eventually, I coughed it up. I also had problems with my skin suit. It burned! Maybe this morning when I had very good legs, I got the illusion that I could keep the red jersey but this is where I wanted to be: between one and half and two minutes down on Vincenzo. Now I believe the race will be won in the mountains with tactics and luck when there’ll be no team-mates left. I’ve had a really good shot at the red jersey and I want it back.”

Horner is currently tied at 3rd overall with Movistar’s Alejandro Valverde, 46 seconds down on Nibali.