Brave descent sees Nicolas Roche advance

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche closed on Chris Froome yesterday, moving joint second in the general classification of the Vuelta a Espana.

Italian Matteo Trentin won stage 10. Four-time Tour de France champion Froome remains 36 seconds ahead of his closest rivals, but did see Roche join Esteban Chaves in joint second place after the Irishman gained 29 seconds.

Ascending the Collado Bermejo, Trentin and Jose Joaquin Rojas formed a breakaway before the former pulled away to win his second stage. Roche had a “few scares” on the 164.8km stage from Caravaca to Alhama de Murcia.