The sprinters' favourites were burnt, the cream picked up by a young Frenchman

Bastien Tronchon, a 24-year-old French cyclist with the Groupama-FDJ United team, claimed victory in the tenth stage of the 81st Vuelta a España, marking a surprising triumph over the race's favorites. The stage, which stretched 187.4 kilometers from Alcaraza to Elche de la Sierra, ended in a chaotic sprint finish where Tronchon, who had not been considered a contender for the day, capitalized on a moment of confusion among his rivals. After crossing the finish line, he was initially uncertain whether anyone had passed him, and thus did not raise his arms in celebration. However, upon realizing he had won, he expressed disbelief and excitement, calling the result “absurd” and stating he could hardly believe it. The final kilometers of the stage were marked by relentless attacks, with teams attempting to break away from the peloton. Despite these efforts, the Visma | Lease a Bike team, preparing for its favorite Wout van Aert, maintained control throughout much of the race. The situation changed dramatically on the final climb, where Spanish rider Xabier Azparren (Pinarello-Q36.5) and Kazakh rider Evgeny Fedorov (XDS-Astana) launched a surprise attack. Their move caught many of the sprinters off guard, leading to a dramatic finale where Tronchon seized the opportunity. In the last kilometer, the race turned into a thrilling sprint, with multiple riders launching attacks. Tronchon, known for his explosive finishes, managed to hold off the competition and secure the win. His performance came after a difficult few days, during which he struggled with fatigue. He credited his teammate Martin for pushing him hard throughout the race, saying, “I told him to push until he dies, and now I’ve won. It’s absurd.” This victory marks Tronchon’s third professional win and his second success in Spain this season. Previously, he stunned the field in the third stage of the Tour of Burgos in 2022, defeating Pavel Sivakov in a sprint in Villarcayu. Tronchon, who hails from Chambéry, has competed in three major Tours: the 2023 Tour de France, the 2024 Tour de France, and now the 2026 Vuelta a España. With today’s win, he becomes the second youngest winner of the 2026 Vuelta, following British rider Matthew Brennan, who was just 21 years old at the time. The results of the tenth stage saw Tronchon take the lead, finishing ahead of Magnus Cort (Denmark/Uno-X Mobility) and Thibau Nys (Belgium/Lidl-Trek). Wout van Aert (Belgium/Visma | Lease a Bike) finished fourth, while other notable performances included Alessandro Romele (Italy/XDS Astana) and Xabier Azparren. Slovenian riders Gal Glivar and Domen Novak both finished within the same time as Tronchon, though they were placed further down the standings. The overall classification remained unchanged after the stage, with Enric Mas (Spain/Movistar) maintaining the leader’s position. Primož Roglič (Slovenia/Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) followed closely behind, just one minute and 18 seconds slower than the leader. The race continues to unfold with high stakes, and Tronchon’s unexpected victory adds another layer of intrigue to the 2026 Vuelta a España.