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Spain's Imanol Erviti won stage 10 of the Vuelta a Espana while compatriot Joaquim Rodriguez took over as race leader.

Second behind Caisse D'Epargne rider Erviti in the 175.7-kilometre hilly stage from Tarragona to Vilanova i la Geltru was Belgian Romain Zingle, with Belgium's Greg Van Avermaet third.

Rodriguez claimed the leader's jersey from Spaniard Igor Anton after snatching a two-second time bonus early in the stage - and making up for his disappointment at having the red jersey taken away from him a three days ago.

Rodriguez was given the Vuelta red jersey three days ago only to be told later there had been a mistake.

Tied with overnight leader Igor Anton since Saturday, the Katusha rider snatched a two-second bonus early on the 175.7-km Stage 10.

The bonus put Rodriguez ahead of Anton by two seconds, with Italian Vincenzo Nibali four seconds off the pace.

"Taking the jersey in itself is important but it's the long-term game I'm really interested in," Rodriguez said. "I'm the sort of rider who's got to take whatever seconds are on offer wherever I can.

"I'm a lousy time trialist and there's a big time trial in the final week of the race. If there's a bonus on offer I'll fight for it."

Rodriguez was denied the race lead three days ago because Anton had recorded better results in previous stages.

"It's great to take the leader's jersey here in Catalonia, where I was born," said Rodriguez.

"But it's more important to get the jersey after being so close to it for so long and working so hard for it."

Erviti clinched the Caisse d'Epargne team's second straight win in the race after forming part of an early 11-man break which broke up on the lung-burstingly tough slopes of the Rat Penat climb.

He then sped away alone on the rough, twisting roads of the descent to the Catalan coastal resort of Vilanova i la Geltru.

Second was Romain Zingle, 37 seconds back, with his fellow Belgian Greg Van Avermaet in third spot.

"When a team here in the Tour of Spain has five leaders, like ours, it' harder to succeed than if there's only one or two," said Erviti.

"We take turns to keep an eye on the breaks and after (team mate) David (Lopez) won the other day, today it was my go. I could see the other guys had a lot of problems on that descent so I went for it."

Pre-race favourite Andy Schleck of Luxembourg failed to start the stage after Saxo Bank withdrew him from the race for breaking team rules.

Schleck said he had taken an alcoholic drink after supper with team mate Stuart O'Grady, who was also expelled.

Stage 10 results:

1. Imanol Erviti (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) 4hrs 13mins 31secs

2. Romain Zingle (Belgium / Cofidis) +37"

3. Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Lotto)

4. Mauro Finetto (Italy / Liquigas)

5. Javier Moreno (Spain / Andalucia)

6. Anders Lund (Denmark / Saxo Bank)

7. Christophe Le Mevel (France / FDJ)

8. Gianpaolo Cheula (Italy / Footon)

9. Laurens ten Dam (Netherlands / Rabobank) +42"

10. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kazakhstan / Astana) +1:36"

Reuters