Spanish rider Juan Ayuso, from UAE Emirates, simply rode away with Stage 12 of the Vuelta today. It was a masterclass in breakaway cycling. While Ayuso celebrated his second victory in this year’s race, Jonas Vingegaard held tight to his leader’s jersey, keeping Portuguese star João Almeida close behind in second place overall.
The Spaniard, Ayuso, covered the 144.9 kilometers from Laredo to Los Corrales de Buelna in a speedy 3 hours, 16 minutes, and 21 seconds. That’s an impressive average speed of 44.3 km/h. He didn’t just win; he out-battled fellow countryman Javier Romo of Movistar right at the finish line. Romo had been his partner for much of the day’s escape.
Meanwhile, the main pack, including Vingegaard, Almeida, and all the other big names hoping for a final victory, took a more relaxed approach. They rolled in over six minutes after Ayuso crossed the line. This big time gap meant no real changes at the very top of the general classification.
Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a bike) still enjoys a 50-second cushion over Almeida (UAE Emirates). Great Britain’s Thomas Pidcock (Q36.5) sits in third, just 56 seconds off the leader. It’s still a tight race for the podium spots.
But hold onto your hats. Friday’s 13th stage looks set to deliver pure drama. This isn’t just any stage; it’s a grueling 202.7-kilometer trek from Cabezón de la Sal to the legendary Alto de L’Angliru. Riders will face two tough first-category mountain climbs before hitting the brutal, special-category ascent right at the finish. This stage could totally flip the race on its head and decide who truly deserves the winner’s crown.