page_title: 2010 Vuelta a España
section_title: Classification leadership
hierarchical_section_title: 2010 Vuelta a España / Classification leadership
caption_attribution_description: English: Ezequiel Mosquera, Vincenzo Nibali and Peter Velits toasting with champagne at the Vuelta a España 2010. Español: Ezequiel Mosquera, Vincenzo Nibali y Peter Velits brindando con champán en la Vuelta a España 2010.
context_page_description: The 2010 Vuelta a España was held from 28 August to 19 September and was won by Vincenzo Nibali. The race began in Seville and ended, as is tradition, in Madrid.
  The race covered 3,333.8 km. There was critical analysis that this Vuelta, which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the first edition of the race, was an especially difficult one and that stage 16 was the queen stage.
  The stage 1 team time trial was held at night.
  Vuelta runner-up Ezequiel Mosquera and Xacobeo–Galicia teammate David García Dapena were announced on September 30 to have given positive tests for hydroxyethyl starch during the race, a substance which is known as a masking agent for erythropoietin. All results from Mosquera after 12 September were annulled, which caused him to lose his second place. García later was announced to have tested positive for EPO during the race as well.
context_section_description: In the 2010 Vuelta a España, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding the finishing times of the stages per cyclist after deduction of time bonuses for high placings in stage finishes and at intermediate sprints, the leader received a red jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the Vuelta a España, and the winner of the general classification was considered the winner of the Vuelta.
  Additionally, there was also a points classification, which awarded a green jersey. In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. The winner got 25 points, second place 20, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point per place less down the line, to a single point for fifteenth. In addition, some points were won in intermediate sprints.
  There was also a mountains classification, which awarded a blue-spotted white jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized, either first, second, third or "special" category, the last of which is equivalent to the Hors catégorie rating used in races such as the Tour de France.
  Finally, there was the combination classification. This is calculated by adding the rankings in the general, points and mountains classifications; the cyclist with the lowest combined ranking is the leader in the combination classification, and receives a white jersey.
  There was also a classification for teams. In this classification, the times of the best three cyclists per stage were added, and the team with the lowest time is the leader.
  ¹ Initially, the team time trial gave points toward the points classification. These points were later removed.
  ² All results from Mosquera after 12 September (stage 15) were originally annulled. However this was overturned by a Spanish Court.
caption: Mosquera, Nibali and Velits (2nd, 1st and 3rd position respectively) toasting.
exif: {"Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image Software": "Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer 6.1.7600.16385", "Image DateTime": "2010:09:19 18:06:49", "Image ExifOffset": "2200", "Image Padding": "[]", "EXIF Padding": "[]"}