The French rider Bastien Tronchon celebrates winning the 10th stage of the Vuelta cycling tour on Tuesday. Photograph: Javier Lizón/EPA
Bastien Tronchon claimed victory in stage 10 of the Vuelta a España as the Frenchman edged a thrilling bunch sprint on Tuesday.
The Groupama rider was followed over the line by Magnus Cort Nielsen and Thibau Nys, who edged Wout van Aert to complete the day’s podium. The Spaniard Enric Mas retained the red jersey ahead of Primoz Roglic and Felix Gall in the general classification.
The five-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar was firm favourite to win the race until he crashed heavily on Saturday, breaking his collarbone and abandoning the event.
Tronchon put his right hand to his helmet in surprise when crossing the line and sobbed when his teammates congratulated him. “I finished on the line but I wasn’t sure if there was some guys in front or not, so I didn’t put my hands in the air,” a delighted Tronchon said.
Bastien Tronchon after winning the stage. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Seven riders established a lead on the 184.7km route from Alcaraz to Elche de la Sierra, but Visma-Lease a Bike and Cofidis controlled the peloton to keep them within reach. With 10km to go, Michael Gogl and Fredrik Dversnes were the only riders left ahead of the bunch but their lead of just a few seconds was soon swallowed.
Yevgeniy Fedorov and Xabier Azparren attacked with a kilometre to go but the bunch caught them just before the line, with Tronchon timing his burst to perfection to claim victory.
On Wednesday a largely flat stage 11 runs 153.8km from Cartagena to Lorca, ideal for the sprinters, although a category-three climb up Morrón de Totana offers a challenge before the end.
