Bastien Tronchon Surges to Surprise Vuelta Stage 10 Victory

What happened: Bastien Tronchon claimed a surprise victory on Stage 10 of the Vuelta a España on Tuesday, September 1, producing a powerful late acceleration in Elche de la Sierra. The 24-year-old Groupama-FDJ United rider took his first Grand Tour stage win at the end of the 184.7-kilometre route from Alcaraz.

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The official Vuelta race report said seven riders formed the day’s breakaway on the rolling course. Their advantage reached two minutes and 55 seconds before the peloton steadily reduced the gap. The route included three categorized climbs, with repeated attacks adding pressure during the final 30 kilometres.

The race remained unsettled after the early escape was caught. Yevgeniy Fedorov of XDS Astana and Xabier Azparren of Pinarello-Q36.5 attacked inside the final kilometre and briefly threatened to stay clear. Tronchon accelerated past both riders with about 50 metres remaining and carried his speed through the line.

Magnus Cort of Uno-X Mobility finished second, while Lidl-Trek’s Thibau Nys completed the podium. Wout van Aert was fourth. The Guardian also reported that Tronchon was unsure whether anyone remained ahead when he crossed the line, explaining why he did not immediately raise his arms in celebration.

The result did not change the top of the general classification. Movistar’s Enric Mas retained the red leader’s jersey, with Primoz Roglic second and Felix Gall third, according to the Guardian’s race report. The official Vuelta account said Mas responded when rivals tried to create separation during the late attacks, keeping control of the overall race at the start of its second week.

Why it matters: Tronchon’s breakthrough rewarded Groupama-FDJ United after teammate Enzo Paleni had helped animate the breakaway earlier in the stage. It was also the second French stage victory of the 2026 race, following Bryan Coquard’s win three days earlier, according to the Vuelta. Stage 11 is scheduled to cover 153.8 kilometres from Cartagena to Lorca on Wednesday, with a largely flat profile expected to give the sprinters another opportunity.