2010 Vuelta a España

Sixteen teams were automatically selected due to previous agreements and there were six wildcard places. Three of these were given to UCI Professional Continental teams, and three to UCI ProTour teams.

Team RadioShack was not invited despite having a ProTour license.^[7]

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.

More information Stage, Winner ...

Stage	Winner	General classification	Points classification	Mountains classification	Combination Classification	Team classification
1	Team HTC–Columbia	Mark Cavendish	Mark Cavendish1	not awarded	Mark Cavendish	Team HTC–Columbia
2	Yauheni Hutarovich		Yauheni Hutarovich	Mickaël Delage	Javier Ramírez
3	Philippe Gilbert	Philippe Gilbert	Philippe Gilbert	Serafín Martínez	Serafín Martínez
4	Igor Antón		Igor Antón		Vincenzo Nibali	Caisse d'Epargne
5	Tyler Farrar
6	Thor Hushovd		Philippe Gilbert		Philippe Gilbert
7	Alessandro Petacchi		Mark Cavendish
8	David Moncoutié	Igor Antón			Vincenzo Nibali
9	David López			David Moncoutié
10	Imanol Erviti	Joaquim Rodríguez			David Moncoutié
11	Igor Antón	Igor Antón	Igor Antón		Igor Antón
12	Mark Cavendish		Mark Cavendish
13	Mark Cavendish
14	Joaquim Rodríguez	Vincenzo Nibali			Joaquim Rodríguez
15	Carlos Barredo					Team Katusha
16	Mikel Nieve	Joaquim Rodríguez
17	Peter Velits	Vincenzo Nibali
18	Mark Cavendish
19	Philippe Gilbert
20	Ezequiel Mosquera				Vincenzo Nibali
21	Tyler Farrar
Final		Vincenzo Nibali	Mark Cavendish	David Moncoutié	Vincenzo Nibali	Team Katusha

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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.^[5] However this was overturned by a Spanish Court.^[9]