Spain’s Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) outsprinted compatriot Javier Romo (Movistar) to win stage 12 of the Vuelta a Espana on Thursday, his second stage win of this year’s race, with Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) retaining the overall lead.
Ayuso, who went solo to win stage seven, had Romo for company for the final 25 kilometres of the 144.9km ride from Laredo to Los Corrales de Buelna, after the pair got away from a large leading group, and timed his final move to perfection to overtake Romo close to the line.
France’s Brieuc Rolland (Groupama-FDJ) came in 13 seconds behind in third having threatened to bridge the gap in the final kilometres, while Denmark’s Vingegaard finished safely in the peloton which ambled in over six minutes later.
There was no change at the top of the general classification, with Vingegaard maintaining his 50-second lead over Portugal’s Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) with Briton Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) a further six seconds back in third.
