Of course he could had won the vuelta if he wanted, unless you are innocent to think he couldn't take more 8 s on angliru or in puerto de linares.The most funny thing is that you keep saying that he could have won the Vuelta if he wanted.
He didn't won it.
And he couldn't had won it.
But he wanted alright.
He finished 2nd this way, and he would've finished 2nd the other way also.