Tronchon claims surprise stage win as Mas retains Vuelta lead

Bastien Tronchon produced the surprise of the Vuelta’s 10th stage, winning a mass sprint after no team managed to organize a lead-out train for its specialist sprinter. The 24-year-old Frenchman secured his third professional victory and his first on a three-week race.

Tronchon, riding for Groupama-FDJ United, won the 184.7-kilometre stage from Alcaraz to Elche de la Sierra in 4:07:41. Denmark’s Magnus Cort Nielsen finished second for Uno-X Mobility, while Belgium’s Thibau Nys took third for Lidl-Trek.

Wout van Aert finished fourth and collected more points, strengthening his position at the top of the green-jersey standings. Enric Mas of Movistar kept the red jersey and leads Primož Roglič by 1:18. Austria’s Felix Gall is third, 1:39 behind Mas. No other rider sits within two minutes of the leader.

Wednesday’s 151.3-kilometre route from Cartagena to Lorca features one categorized third-category climb. The 7.8-kilometre ascent, with an average gradient of 4.5%, could offer an opportunity for a breakaway, although the stage may again end in a sprint.