Degenkolb Wins Fourth Vuelta Stage

Argos-Shimano sprinter John Degenkolb showed his power for the fourth time in the Vuelta a España, winning Stage Ten Tuesday.

The German sprinter from the Dutch Pro Continental team started his sprint early, blowing by RadioShack-Nissan’s Daniele Bennati and out-ragging FDJ-Big Mat’s Nacer Bouhanni to the line.

Bennati realized immediately he was racing for second; he tried to stick to Degenkolb’s wheel but couldn’t. Bouhanni made a charge in the last fifty meters but couldn’t get more than halfway by the charging German.

Lotto’s Gianni Meersman made a great late charge but his timing was a few seconds off; he had to settle for third.

“The sprint was really hard and the final was really just fighting,” Degenkolb told Eurosport. “The stage itself was not that hard because we controlled the race all day. The team did a really good job. I say it every time but it’s true—I must thank the boys.”

Stage 11 is the race’s only individual time trial, a twisting 39.4-kilometer circuit with a Cat 3 climb right in the middle. The General Classification leaders will all feel at home here.

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