I knew that if Sergey Lagutin had a good feeling in a Grand Tour, he could finish well. Still I didn't dare to imagine that he would, after stage 11, be 26th overall. About six minutes behind race leader Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky). I am extremely happy he is.

Wiggins took the leader's jersey today on Estación de Montaña Manzaneda, but he wasn't the winner of the stage.

David Moncoutié (Cofidis) may not win a lot. He has often seemed more like a recreational cyclist rather than a pro cyclist. But when he enjoys riding his bike as a pro, he can win anything and that's what he did today. The climb fitted him well and he took his fourth Vuelta stage in four years after having been part of the key breakaway of the day. On the last climb, he solo attacked and won ahead of Beñat Intxausti (Movistar) and Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank). His victory meant that the Frenchman took the blue polka-dot climber’s jersey.

“I had studied the course well, and planned where to attack on the last climb,” he said. “I was thinking about this stage for a while, and after falling short at Sierra Nevada, another finish that I like, I’ve managed to do it.”