Having missed most of the season due to injury, Daniel Navarro (Cofidis) is not at his best in the Vuelta a Espana. However, he hopes to improve throughout the race and today he did well to limit his losses by finishing 27th in the first mountain stage.

“It's very hot. Today with the headwind, not too much, but in the end, in the last climb without wind, it was hard. I think Astana is the stronger team," he said.

Navarro is now 22nd in the overall standings. Last year he won a stage and finished in the top 10.