2026-09-01T13:57:14.102Z

The bunch will need to bring the break closer before the final classified climb of the day, the route turns north-west there and will have a tailwind, which will aid the leaders.

2026-09-01T13:55:21.807Z

It’s still Visma-Lease a Bike and Cofidis leading the chase, but they have everything under control.
The breakaway are just 1:30 ahead, a gap they should be able to close in the distance remaining. But this is cycling and things can change.

2026-09-01T13:51:25.704Z
Intermediate sprint – 59km to go

The breakaway takes it with the bunch 1:35 behind.
Weiss takes it and the 20 points on offer.

2026-09-01T13:45:53.571Z

Just 5km until the intermediate sprint now, and with the breakaway still 1:55 up the road it’ll be one of those leaders who wins the points and they only go down to fifth place.

2026-09-01T13:36:37.193Z

Oddly, the gap is going back out again, it’s almost two minutes once again, it seems the peloton realised they wouldn’t quite catch the leaders before the intermediate.

2026-09-01T13:32:29.319Z
75km to go – The racing is on now

There’s not much time for chatting in the peloton now, the pace is high ahead of the intermediate sprint in 15km.
Paleni, Gogl, Sütterlin, Weiss, Fernández, Cobo and Dversnes lead by 1:45 so it looks like they’ll take maximum points now.

2026-09-01T13:26:25.055Z

The next obstacle for the stage is the intermediate sprint which comes in just under 20km.
The winner will take 20 points, and that could be taken by either the breakaway or peloton, even though their deficit is now back out to 1:45.

2026-09-01T13:22:14.451Z

Though the peloton’s deficit has stabilised at the 1:25 mark, Cofidis are also helping out on the front.
The French team took a stage win with Bryan Coquard last week.

Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) celebrates after winning stage 8 of the 2026 Vuelta a España in Xeraco, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T13:12:42.844Z

The descent isn’t a steep one, but it’s long the route undulating for more or less 60km until we reach a short, steep but unclassified dig before the final third cat ascent.

2026-09-01T13:08:28.665Z

It’s Visma-Lease a bike who are doing the damage, they’re on the front nailing it and stringing the bunch out.

Weiss won maximum points on the climb, with Sütterlin second and Fernández in third.

2026-09-01T13:05:03.173Z

And suddenly the gap drops like a stone, the lead for Paleni, Gogl, Sütterlin, Weiss, Fernández, Cobo and Dversnes is down to only 1:20.

2026-09-01T13:02:30.452Z
100km to go

The top of the climb comes in about 1500m.
The leaders still have a lead of 2:25.

2026-09-01T12:56:29.843Z

The climb they’re on at the moment isn’t a particularly tough one, it might be 7.7km long, but the average gradient is just 4%. It’s a third category climb, with a maximum 3 points at the top.

2026-09-01T12:51:07.585Z
105km to go – Puerto de Aýna

We’re onto the second classified climb of the day now.
Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ United), Michael Gogl (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Jasha Sütterlin (Jayco-AlUla), Fabian Weiss (Tudor Pro Cycling), Sinuhé Fernández (Burgos- Burpellet-BH), Iván Cobo (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Fredrik Dversnes (UNO-X Mobility) lead the peloton by 2:30.

The breakaway during stage 10 of the 2026 Vuelta a España. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T12:40:59.309Z

Netcompany-Ineos might have a chance to win today’s stage, but Ben Turner, who won a stage in last year’s race, has just withdrawn.

Ben Turner (Netcompany INEOS) at the start of stage 10 of the 2026 Vuelta a España in Alcaraz, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Ben Turner started stage 10 but had to withdrew mid-race (Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T12:36:58.453Z

Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) is wearing the green jersey of the points classification leader. how many points can he win today?

Wout Van Aert (Visma - Lease a Bike) competes during stage 10 of the 2026 Vuelta a España (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T12:33:05.251Z
120km to go

The next classified climb is the Puerto Aýna begins with 106.1km of the stage remaining, next up is the descent to the foot of the climb. It’s not to steep but there are plenty of twists and turns.

2026-09-01T12:28:08.846Z

The opening climb led the race onto an undulating plateau and the descending only begins in the next few kilometres, so any wind really won’t affect the race.

2026-09-01T12:23:33.576Z

We’re into an area of cross winds here, but it’s only around 14kph and the road twists too much for it to have any effect.

2026-09-01T12:19:42.476Z

We have around 40km until the top of the next climb.

2026-09-01T12:16:04.211Z

Paleni was first over the climb, claiming 2 points for the mountains classification
Weiss won 2 points and Fernández 1 point.

2026-09-01T12:13:35.507Z
135km to go – The first classified climb is over

Our breakaway of Paleni, Gogl, Sütterlin, Weiss, Fernández, Cobo and Dversnes lead by 2:15

2026-09-01T12:11:25.884Z

Enric Mas starts the second week of the race leading the general classification by 1:18. So what’s next for the Movistar rider?

“I haven’t looked at the route at all,” he admitted.

Enric Mas (Movistar) before stage 10 of the 2026 Vuelta a España in Alcaraz, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

What’s next Enric? (Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T12:02:44.770Z

The lead really has been allowed to grow, as they start the Puerto del Paralejo they lead by 2:52.

2026-09-01T12:00:32.593Z

With Tadej Pogačar out of the race, his UAE Team Emirates-XRG team are left without their leader.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG recalibrate Vuelta a España goals after losing Tadej Pogačar.

UAE Team Emirates XRG prior to stage 9 of the 2026 Vuelta a España in Villajoyosa, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

A change of approach for UAE Team Emirates-XRG (Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T11:53:14.537Z

The day’s first categorised climb is the Puerto del Paralejo. It’s 5.2km in length with an average gradient of 4.2%.

2026-09-01T11:48:44.276Z
150km to go – the race settles

The advantage for Paleni, Gogl, Sütterlin, Weiss, Fernández, Cobo and Dversnes have been allowed to settle at 1:50.

2026-09-01T11:45:16.657Z

We’re heading towards the day’s first climb now, with 152km to go the breakaway’s lead has settled at 1:45.

2026-09-01T11:37:03.835Z

Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ United), Michael Gogl (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Jasha Sütterlin (Jayco-AlUla), Fabian Weiss (Tudor Pro Cycling), Sinuhé Fernández (Burgos- Burpellet-BH), Iván Cobo (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Fredrik Dversnes (UNO-X Mobility) lead the bunch by two minutes.

2026-09-01T11:34:06.906Z
160km to go – six become seven

Dversnes has caught the leading group while the peloton have slipped out to 1:50 behind.

2026-09-01T11:32:18.535Z

Remember Dversnes’ win at the Giro d’Italia this year?

He was part of the breakaway which shocked the peloton.

Fredrik Dversnes of Uno-X Mobility competes during the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2026 in Milan, Italy, on May 24, 2026. (Photo by Silvia Colombo/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Can Dversnes win from the breakaway again? (Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T11:27:32.468Z

With the leaders’ advantage at 1.25 Fredrik Dversnes (UNO-X Mobility) is chasing, though he’s alone and almost a minute behind.

2026-09-01T11:25:06.216Z

Now it’s the turn of Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ United), he’s up the road with Michael Gogl (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Jasha Sütterlin (Jayco-AlUla), Fabian Weiss (Tudor Pro Cycling), Sinuhé Fernández (Burgos- Burpellet-BH) and Iván Cobo (Equipo Kern Pharma). This group of six have been allowed their heads and lead by 1:25.

Now we have a breakaway!

2026-09-01T11:18:16.815Z
170km to go, there’s not break yet

Well, that didn’t last long, the six leaders are caught.

2026-09-01T11:16:01.332Z

Finlay Pickering (Jayco-AlUla), Rémy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ United), Jesus Herrada (Burgos-Burpellet-BH), Magnus Cort Nielsen (UNO-X Mobility), Domen Novak and Jay Vine (both UAE Team Emirates-XRG), are away but struggling to hold off the chasing bunch.

2026-09-01T11:11:55.101Z

We have six riders off the front, though they only have 10 seconds on the bunch.

2026-09-01T11:10:16.327Z

Still the attacks come. It was much more relaxed just a few minutes ago.

2026-09-01T11:07:52.098Z

And they’re caught again.
It’s another warm one out there, around 27º, with a slight wind. That wind will increase as the day goes on, though it’s unlikely to cause too many problems unless we get more than is forecast.

2026-09-01T11:04:42.761Z

It’s all action out there, with a lone escapee getting a gap and being caught, now four, nope, make that six more are trying their luck.

2026-09-01T11:03:11.127Z

Of course the big name missing from the race now is Tadej Pogačar. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider crashed out on Saturday, sustaining multiple injuries.

Luckily surgery on his broken collarbone went well.

PUCOL, SPAIN - AUGUST 29: Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates XRG - Red Leader Jersey prior to the La Vuelta - 81st Tour of Spain 2026, Stage 8 a 171km stage from Pucol to Xeraco / #UCIWT / on August 29, 2026 in Pucol, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T10:59:22.082Z
We’re racing! 184.7km to go.

Here we go. The day’s first climb comes after 47km, will we have a breakaway before then? Let’s find out.

2026-09-01T10:56:15.529Z

We do have an intermediate sprint during today’s stage, coming in Hellín with 59.7km to go. Wout van Aert leads the points classification and is sure to want to collect the maximum points there.

2026-09-01T10:52:44.263Z

We’ve just learnt of another non-starter this morning, Henri-François Renard-Haquin (Picnic-PostNL) was forced to abandon after a crash on Sunday.

2026-09-01T10:50:11.615Z

Lucas Hamilton looked pretty relaxed before the stage began, here’s the Netcompany-Ineos rider preserving his energy at the sign on.

Lucas Hamilton (Netcompany INEOS) before stage 10 of the 2026 Vuelta a España in Alcaraz, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T10:46:22.567Z
And away! The riders are rolling

We’ve got 6.2km of neutral riding before the racing get underway.

2026-09-01T10:43:32.713Z

One of the things which might disrupt the fast men in today’s final climb, the Puerto de Socovos, which tops out 21.4km from the finish. It’s 9.8km in length, though it only averages 3.5% gradient.

That could make it a day for Lidl-Trek’s Thibau Nys, seen here being interviewed before the stage.

Thibau Nys (Lidl - Trek) meets the media before stage 10 of the 2026 Vuelta a España in Alcaraz, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Could stage 10 be one for Thibau Nys? (Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T10:37:55.206Z

One rider who won’t be on the start line is New Zealand champion George Bennett (NSN) who has pulled out of the Vuelta after the rest day.

With a demanding number of race days already in the legs this season, the decision has been made to retire @georgenbennett from the @lavuelta. (1/2)🇪🇸 #LaVuelta26 #WeAreNSN #ForFin | @weare_nsn pic.twitter.com/fXMdr7lKa8September 1, 2026

2026-09-01T10:31:51.119Z

There might only be those three climbs, but It’s up hill from the flag, which could make for a chaotic start. Nevertheless, it may still be a day for the sprinters, but only if their teams can control a breakaway.

2026-09-01T10:27:15.259Z

Today brings us yet another lumpy stage, with 2,669m of vertical ascent, though there are only three categorised climbs.

2026-09-01T10:20:19.671Z

Sunday’s stage 9 was another brilliantly entertaining affair, it’s all in our report.

Race leader Enric Mas outsprints Oscar Onley to win stage 9 on Alto de Aitana.

Team Movistar's Spanish rider Enric Mas celebrates his victory followed by Team Netcompany Ineos' Scottish rider Oscar Onley during the 9th stage of the Vuelta a Espana 2026 cycling tour, a 187,4 km race between Villajoyosa and Alto de Aitana in Confrides, on August 30, 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-09-01T10:13:22.461Z

On today’s menu is 184.7km between Alcaraz and Elche de la Sierra, rolling out at 12:45 local time, the race getting underway proper 14 minutes later.

2026-09-01T10:06:28.139Z

It’s the first stage after the first rest day, something which can mess with some rider’s rhythm, so today we’ll see how they’ve recovered.

2026-09-01T10:03:10.992Z

Good morning and welcome to stage 10 of the 2026 Vuelta a España. As usual we’ll have live updates and analysis throughout the stage, so stay with us all day.