Vuelta a Espana 2016: Stage 10 Results, Updated Standings and Highlights

Nairo Quintana tasted victory for the first time in the 2016 Vuelta a Espana after winning Stage 10 on Monday, where an almighty comeback at the end of the climb saw the Colombian take the red jersey.

Monday started off in Lugones and brought about the first mountain climb of this year's Vuelta, where Quintana was always likely to feature as one of the potential favourites for the win.

After going head-to-head with home favourite Alberto Contador, Quintana emerged from the pack to also become the first non-European to win a stage of this year's race, not to mention snatch the general classification lead. 

Dutchman Robert Gesink led by 41 seconds entering the final four kilometres of the 117-mile trek to Lagos de Covadonga, but Quintana turned the screw to finish a distance clear, per the official Vuelta a Espana Twitter account:

Great Britain's Chris Froome was another of those simmering among the contenders come the Stage 10 final assault, and he ended just a second behind runner-up Gesink to ensure he remains within touching distance overall.

Quintana finished the route to Lagos de Covadonga in a total time of four hours, 50 minutes and 31 seconds, and he now sits almost one minute clear of Movistar team-mate Alejandro Valverde and Froome in the general classification:

David de la Cruz's team of Etixx-Quick-Step did their utmost to preserve the Spaniard's lead after Stage 10 and made sure they led a peloton that was attempting to stick within reach.

Cycling writer Cillian Kelly highlighted the strong form of Belgian Thomas de Gendt, who was a dark horse to watch out following a strong display in Stage 9 a day earlier:

The 16-man breakaway looked likely to be whittled down as the race wore on, and that's what happened as the riders began the harshest portion of the Alto Del Mirador Del Fito ascent. Competitors started to drop off with 45 kilometres remaining.

The Mirador de la Reina was still to come, however—a climb comprising an average incline of around 7 percent for the most part and verging as high as 17.5 percent for the grand finish.

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press

Gesink made his move as soon as he entered the final 12 kilometres and immediately found daylight, while Froome allowed himself to drop from the main body of the peloton and was well placed for a strategic finish.

Quinana and Contador sat just ahead of the Briton, but the peloton all of a sudden widened before exploding entirely, with the aforementioned duo at its forefront.

This was the beginning of a sensational climax in Asturias, which cycling journalist Ned Boulting enjoyed to the utmost:

The ensuring battle between Quintana and Contador was one of the race's best features, and the bulk of the breakaway fell away, although Gesink at least maintained some impression among the top finishers.

Froome could also afford to be pleased with his finish despite missing out on the top two places, as he limited damage in a major way heading into the first rest day of the 2016 Vuelta a Espana.

The race now resumes on Wednesday for Stage 11, where riders will make their way from the Jurassic Museum of Asturias to Pena Cabarga along a 105-kilometre medium mountain trail, with Quintana the new leader.