Fabian Cancellara originally finished second behind Tony Martin in today's Vuelta a Espana time tria. However, the Swiss was penalized for drafting and has been relegated to third.

The first individual time trial of the Veulta a España was a tough test held on a 36.7-kilometer technical parcours that included one category three climb followed by a tricky descent, and for added measure, plenty of rotted pavement thrown in. 

The specialists against the clock set the quickest times early on with Jesse Sergent establishing the first benchmark (48:15) until Fabian Cancellara blasted through and stopped the clock in 47:13.

World time trial champion Tony Martin (OPQS) would be the only rider to best Cancellara’s time, finishing 11 seconds faster.  Post race Vuelta UCI officials would adjust Cancellara's finish time, citing he had drafted during the race. They added seven seconds, which dropped him to third place on the stage.

“I did what I could, that was my goal today," Cancellara siad. "My only doubt was my safety for myself, and I also could not find the rhythm. I spoke with my [director] and he said, ‘hey, if you did not find the rhythm how do you expect the other ones to find the rhythm?'

"I was not using the gears I usually do for time trials – it was either hard [gear] to pedal, or really low [gear] to pedal; [that] was something special of today. In the end I did what I could. I did my maximum, and that is also important.

"It was bad, bad roads! This asphalt – it is not an excuse - but it has nothing to do with a time trial in my opinion. Compared to last year [the roads were] much nicer, but this is how it is and we have to do it, but I hope they look for better roads than this.”

Jesse Sergent would hold on to finish in 9th place (+1’13”) and Bob Jungels also rode powerfully to place 13th (+1'39").

“Today was a hard TT, it was up, down, windy, hot and bad roads," Sergent said. "I felt okay but didn't really know what to expect. I went all-in to do my best. Today was a chance for me to do something, so I kept positive and gave it a nudge.”

Bob Jungels was content with his effort especially after enduring a few crashes in the Vuelta’s first nine stages - the first coming the first day when Trek Factory Racing was training for the team time trial - that have left him struggling to find his top form again:

“In the first intermediate I did not feel very good, same problem [I have been feeling] with my legs since the crash, but I did a good time, and after the climb I recovered well and did a good second part," he said. "Most of my time trials I finish off pretty strong, so I am pretty happy. I lost 21 seconds to Jesse in the first kilometer, I still don’t know how that is possible! At the end I was only 26 seconds back. I am not 100% satisfied because I think I can do better, especially in the climb. But after all these crashes I think I need some time to get back.”

While Trek Factory Racing targeted the stage win today, the other race today was for the overall classification. While none of the GC contenders knocked specialists Martin or Cancellara from the top two spots, there was a definite shake up in the overall after the last rider, the red jersey clad Nairo Quintana (Movistar), had finished.

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) rode himself into the new lead, as Quintana crashed his way out of the top, and maybe out of contention, landing in 11th overall (+3’25”).  His teammate Alejandro Valverde slotted back into second (+27”) and Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) moved up to third place (+59”) with a stellar performance.

Wednesday’s Stage 11 features a high mountain stage with another tough summit finish where the GC fight will continue. Trek Factory Racing will look to feature in the action for the stage victory, same as today, and the same as everyday as they

“I am looking forward to the next days now," Cancellara said. "I was happy for the rest day and happy that the heat is less so we can return to a normal level of racing.  From now we are building up to the next stage.

"[Today] the GC contenders had another race: they are racing for seconds for GC. On the other hand there are riders like me and Tony Martin and some others that go for the stage win. There are always two different races and two mentally different strengths [needed to] put out on the road. Of course it’s always nice to start in the last [positions] to have all the references, but I know already for many years in big tours that I have to just go out and do the best I can and then see what comes at the end.”