Juan Ayuso won his second stage and makes five for UAE Team Emirates. The young Spaniard cleverly held off compatriot Javier Romo to win stage 12. Jonas Vingegaard retained the overall lead. La Vuelta has returned to normalcy after the protests yesterday in Bilbao that caused the race to be stopped. There were supporters with Palestinian flags at the finish line of Los Corrales de Bueina, in the north of Spain but they didn't cause any incidents. Thankfully, the focus was on the duel between Ayuso and Romo, with Ayuso overpowering Romo in the final sprint.
"I already won a stage, and he had to pull more if he wanted to arrive first. I was told from the car to play like this. Sometimes you have to play smart, and that's what I did in the final. The sprint I did quite well. I know this road a lot because it's where it finishes in the junior races, so I knew how to time my sprint, and it went out perfectly."
-Juan Ayuso
"I have to apologize for hitting the handlebar but sometimes it's frustrating, the other day third, today second, but Juan has been stronger, maybe a little bit smarter, and took the win. I have been much more generous than him, at the end he almost didn't want me to take over, but in the end everyone manages the race as they choose. I'm proud of myself, I raced to win, he won me at the finish line, and we will keep trying."
-Javier Romo (Movistar)
Friday's 13th stage is the second longest in this year's Vuelta at 202.7km it should be GC battle on the final climb, a brute of a summit finish on the Angliru at 12.5km long with gradients up above 20%. Stage 13 will mark the Angliru's 10th appearance at La Vuelta. The nortorious 600m Cuenca les Cabres (GOAT Road) section averages 23% and kicks to 30%. This will be the first of two consecutive summit finishes in Asturias. On Saturday's stage 14 to Farrapona will be as challenging for the red jersey.
"It's an inhuman climb."
-Oscar Sevilla. When he raced to the top in 2002.
"Without a doubt if you race up it. It is crazy hard. The road is steep. But with the gearing we have now, climbs like the Angliru are more manageable than in the past. I would guess on Friday most teams will have a 39x36, perhaps even smaller."
-Larry Warbasse was another victim of the Angliru that day in 2023.
"Facing La Cuena les Cabres with almost 200km behind them will be a crucial test for the favorites riders who, should they have a bad day, can kiss La Vuelta goodbye."
-Fernando Escartin. Vuelta route designer.
Comments