Vuelta a Espana Stage 12 Results

Danny van Poppel Wins Stage 12

Danny van Poppel of Trek Factory Racing won Stage 12 in a bunch sprint at the finish.There was a five-rider breakaway at the 2 km (1.2 mile) mark, but the peloton caught the breakaway with 500 meters to go. The catch set up a bunch sprint where van Poppel sprinted past Daryl Impey (Orica GreenEdge) with 10 to 15 meters to go before the finish line.

A 5 rider breakaway group developed a 3-minute gap on the main peloton early in the stage. Team Giant-Alpecin and Trek Factory Racing led the peloton in keeping the gap close. Team Giant-Alpecin was supporting John Degenkolb in what was a sprinter’s stage of 172.5 km (107.2 miles) from Andorra to Lleida in northern Spain. The stage had only one categorized climb, a Category 2, Coll de Boixols, at the 40 km (25 mile) point of the stage.

Stage 13 is a moderate mountain stage with 3 categorized climbs. Over 168 km (104 miles) from Catalayud to Tarazona, the peloton will cross two Category 3 climbs and one Category 2 climbs. The last of the climbs, a Category 3, Alto del Moncayo, starts 30 km (19 miles) from the stage finish. If a strong breakaway forms, the peloton will have to keep the gap down, or the breakaway could stay away. There are few flat portions to the route.

Another GC contender abandoned the Vuelta today. Chris Froome was injured in a crash early in yesterday’s Stage 11. He broke a bone in his right foot and did not start today’s stage. This injury will likely end Froome’s 2015 season.

Stage 12 Results

1	Danny Van Poppel	Ned	Trek Factory Racing	4:02:11
2	Daryl Impey	RSA	Orica GreenEdge	00:00
3	Tosh Van Der Sande	Bel	Lotto Soudal	00:00
4	Nikolas Maes	Bel	Etixx - Quick-Step	00:00
5	John Degenkolb	Ger	Team Giant-Alpecin	00:00
6	Jean-Pierre Drucker	Lux	BMC Racing Team	00:00
7	Tom Van Asbroeck	Bel	Team LottoNL-Jumbo	00:00
8	Kristian Sbaragli	Ita	MTN - Qhubeka	00:00
9	Jose Joaquin Rojas	Spa	Movistar Team	00:00
10	Leonardo Duque	Col	Colombia	00:00

General Classification Standings

1	Fabio Aru	Ita	Astana Pro Team	47:14:30
2	Joaquim Rodriguez	Spa	Team Katusha	0:00:27
3	Tom Dumoulin	Ned	Team Giant-Alpecin	0:00:30
4	Rafal Majka	Pol	Tinkoff-Saxo	0:01:28
5	Esteban Chaves	Col	Orica GreenEdge	0:01:29
6	Alejandro Valverde	Spa	Movistar Team	0:01:52
7	Daniel Moreno	Spa	Team Katusha	0:01:54
8	Mikel Nieve	Spa	Team Sky	0:01:58
9	Nairo Quintana	Col	Movistar Team	0:03:07
10	Louis Meintjes	RSA	MTN - Qhubeka	0:04:15