A flat run from port city Cartagena to Lorca, the best sprint chance of this phase of the Vuelta.
Apart from one third-category climb 33.5 kilometres from the line, this is a straightforward stage through the Región de Murcia. Exactly what the sprinters need after two tough days.
Barring surprises along the way, this shapes up as a classic bunch sprint. The sprint teams who survived the mountains finally get their reward here.
After the shock of Pogačar's crash, the Vuelta heads into the Andalusian mountains for its first rest day on Sunday. Week 2 holds off on a summit finish until stage 12, but then delivers a one-two punch: the Alto de Velefique followed by the climb to the Calar Alto observatory, and three days later the feared Sierra de la Pandera. Everything you need to know about stages 10 through 15.
Stage 10's hilly finish in Elche de la Sierra turned into one of the most chaotic sprints of this Vuelta: the early breakaway was reeled in inside the final 35 kilometres, late attacks from Yevgeniy Fedorov and Xabier Mikel Azparren were caught with only metres to go, and it was Bastien Tronchon (Groupama-FDJ) who surged through for his first-ever Grand Tour stage win, ahead of Magnus Cort, Thibau Nys and a beaten Wout van Aert. Enric Mas came home safely in the bunch to keep his red jersey, still 1:18 clear of Primož Roglič and 1:39 clear of Felix Gall. The full story of stage 10, the GC after ten stages, and a look ahead to the sprinters' last chance in Lorca.
On paper this Vuelta's last pure sprint chance, and that's exactly how it played out: Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) beat Bryan Coquard and Jordi Meeus in Lorca for his third stage win of this race, adding to earlier victories in Manosque and Roquetes — the first rider to manage that on a Grand Tour debut since Tadej Pogačar in 2019. Teammate Wout van Aert hoovered up every sprint point along the way to extend his green jersey lead, even though he had to settle for fifth in the sprint itself. Enric Mas came home safely in the bunch to keep his red jersey, still 1:18 clear of Primož Roglič and 1:39 clear of Felix Gall. The full story of stage 11, the GC after eleven stages, and a look ahead to the mountains' return in stage 12.