After the good start to the race, Cannondale-Garmin have been anonymous in the Vuelta a Espana since Dan Martin crashed out. Today they bounced back with a third place for Moreno Moser in one of the hardest stages of the race.

“I had been trying to get into the breakaway for a few days but for some reason I could not make it," he said. "Today was a tough stage, the toughest in this Vuelta, and I managed to be in the break. I lost contact on the final climb, I knew I had to ride at my own pace. I’m not a pure climber. I think it is a good result. Schleck is in another league and I could not follow him on these steep slopes.”