Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) may be leading the Vuelta a Espana but he hasn't given the same impression of superiority as he did when he won the Giro d'Italia earlier this year. The numbers prove that assessment right as team manager Giuseppe Martinelli tells Gazzetta dello Sport that his star rider produces 20 watts less on average than he did in May.

Many were surprised to see Vincenzo Nibali slightly crack under the pressure on yesterday's third Pyrenean stage as the Italian had shown plenty of strength just 48 hours earlier on the Collada de la Gallina. The below-par performance that reduced his lead over second-placed Chris Horner (Radioshack) has given his rivals renewed hope and fuelled the impression that he is not the same superior rider as he was when he dominated the Giro d'Italia earlier this year.

Nibali had made his home race his major objective of the season and meticulously prepared for the three-week race. The Vuelta a Espana has always been a secondary target which also serves as a preparation event for the world championships.

With the role as Giro champion giving him plenty of off-bike obligations, he hasn't enjoyed the same perfect build-up to his second grand tour and now team manager Giuseppe Martinelli confirms that his captain is not at the same level as he was earlier this year. He compares Saturday's stage to Collada de la Gallina to the Giro stage to Jafferau that were raced in similar foul weather conditions. In the Giro stage, he produced 20 watts more on average than he did on Saturday.

Nibali confirms his manager's words.

“It’s true. I lack about 15 to 20 average watts, he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I prepared for the Giro, training in a perfect way. It was my big season goal. The Vuelta is completely different, approaching it after two months out of racing [one month completely off the bike]. The results can’t be the same. I’d predicted that one day could go wrong.”

Despite yesterday's bad day, Nibali has a 28-second lead over Horner. Racing resumes on Wednesday with a flat stage. Starting at 15.00 CEST you can follow that stage on CyclingQuotes.com/live.