The Colladiella is a very difficult mountain and we knew it, ... In strategic terms the stage went perfectly. I was conscious about the fact that I took great risks when I went downhill. But the point is that if you want something, you have to take your chances.

The key has been the time trial in Lloret, where the first part favoured me and there were no differences, but in the second, Menchov extracted time. Then, he defended itself very well in the mountains, though these climbs were not excessively hard and a strong guy can't be dropped.

I am optimistic and the chip' has been changed, because the Vuelta is a different race, ... It has nothing to do with the (Tour) from a month ago.

I felt well, especially when I attacked in the tunnel with five kilometres to go, ... But I couldn't continue because this climb wasn't very difficult. The hardest bit was at the beginning, and Menchov stuck to my wheel so that didn't make it easier: there was a headwind.

If he doesn't yield, it's possible that we'll have a repeat of yesterday in Cerler, although Sastre said that he misunderstands both Mancebo and me. But if Menchov bends, the race will be much more aggressive and everyone will go hard without holding back.

In a three week race, at the end there is always a high level, and more since we are in the UCI-ProTour. Maybe it's not the same level of the Tour, where all teams bring his nine riders at 100 percent level, but the average is very high. Maybe there are no so many names as other years, but the level continues being high. Here we have Mancebo, Aitor Gonzalez, Landis, Mayo, Pereiro and, in general, teams like Comunidad Valenciana, without forgetting that there are always foreigners whom you don't count on and then they ride very well.

I had no problems at all, the team had everything under control.

I had no problems, it was a routine stage.

In a race of three weeks, the key is to be consistent. The regret today is that I couldn't win the stage. I started the sprint, but Mancebo came very strong from behind me. I saw him coming, but there was nothing I could do.

The fall happened in the first ten riders in the pack,