Marchante aiming higher

Saunier Duval's Jose Gomez Marchante is currently just 56 seconds off the race lead and said that he will do what he can to improve in the general classification. "I am fourth and less than a minute slower than the race leader, so I will fight to get in the podium," he said to Onda Cero radio after the twelfth stage.

"Things will get a little clearer after the time trial. But the key stages will be the last three mountainous days."

For now, he is trying to stay out of trouble. "There is no rest here. These days that seemed to be relatively calm were the contrary. They were very fast and we also must be careful not to catch a cold with these sudden changes of temperature.