British Bradley Wiggins of Skyprocycling reacts while crossing the finish line of the15th stage of the Vuelta Tour of Spain in Riosa , on September 4, 2011. The stage was a 142,2 kms ride from Aviles to Alto de L'Angliru. Getty Images/Jaime REINAJaime REINA/Getty Images
Bradley Wiggins is not yet willing to admit defeat in the Tour of Spain despite losing the lead, the Team Sky rider said on Monday.
"There are tough stages ahead and the gaps are minimal," Wiggins told reporters after losing the leader's jersey to Spain's Juan Jose Cobo on Sunday.
"Once we've had a rest, we'll regroup and there are always opportunities," Wiggins, who lies third behind team mate Chris Froome, said on Monday's rest day.
"Chris is only at 20 seconds; he [Cobo]can't think he's just got it in the bag."
Wiggins said that on the Angliru, widely rated as the hardest climb in Spain, stage winner Cobo had proved unbeatable on Sunday.
"He took it apart singlehandedly and what's made it even worse was that we knew he could do that.
"Me and Chris decided to look out for each other, but on a climb like yesterday it was every man for himself. We had to time trial it all the way to the top and that's essentially what we did.
"Everybody was at 100 percent, everybody was giving it as much as they could."
Wiggins, 46 seconds behind Cobo in the overall standings, said the race had proved tough so far.
"It's been as hard as any other Grand Tour I've ever done, even harder than the Giro," the 31-year-old Briton said.
"It's made for a good spectacle, but it's been very challenging."
Froome, who has one professional win to his name, said: "Doing so well here has been overwhelming, but I'm getting used to it.
"I've realised over the last week this hasn't been a flash in the pan or lucky result, in fact I can support top...riders and be up there myself."
The race resumes on Tuesday with a 203-km flat stage from La Olmeda to Haro and finishes on Sunday in Madrid.