The time-trial will be very difficult, more than it seems. I think there may well be some huge time-gaps at the finish. But I'm not leaving the starting gate with the intention of losing the jersey. I'm going to defend it.

We have to look for an explanation on why this is happening. We'll study it over the winter. Right now we don't know why, ... If we did, I could adapt to solve the problem.

These 10 seconds do not mean anything; for me, they have the same value of the six second bonus Roberto achieved before.

I am feeling that my body feels 100 percent for this Vuelta, ... And during the Tour, it just wasn't like that, even though this year was better than last year.

There's still the stage to Lagos and that will be the key stage, because it's a hard climb and there you can't just follow the wheel.

I still feel good, it's true, but Menchov hasn't failed and it looks like he hasn't done anything. I still have morale and even though I wanted to cut the time differences, I came to the Vuelta to win and I will keep trying.

Psychologically, it was a difficult moment for me. I don't like riding in the peloton in the chasing peloton. That's not my game, ... But I held on, mainly out of respect for my team. I have not given up doing well in the Tour one day. But on the evidence of things, I have to begin questioning certain things. We will analyze all that this winter.

It's a hard course and it's not tailored for the specialists because it has a lot of hills. It can make a lot of differences if you're strong. I know the route well because I have ridden a lot in the area, including training and in Setmana Catalana.