Brajkovic disappointed

Prodigious 22 year old Slovenian Janez Brajkovic has already shown what he can do in this Vuelta, taking second on the first day in the mountains and wearing the leader's yellow jersey, but he wasn't happy after today's performance in the time trial.

"The time trial was terrible. The course isn't a problem - if you were good, you were good, but I just couldn't suffer enough. I obviously lost a lot of time and after two weeks of racing, it is clear that my form is going down a bit. I will just try to dig in and lose as little time as is possible from this point on."

Brajkovic finished 18th in the test, 1'49 behind the day's winner David Millar. The Discovery Channel rider said he never settled into his rhythm. "The hill is terrible, especially with those cobbles. I was just really suffering throughout the course. Obviously it was not a very good day.

"It is my first grand tour and for me, what I have done is incredible. But of course it is a little bit disappointing too to feel worse and worse, day by day. But it is not a problem - life goes on. Life is great," he concluded.