GC update Vuelta a Espana stage 12 – Vingegaard maintains lead as Ayuso claims second win

Stage 12 of the Vuelta a España ended in a tense showdown between Juan Ayuso and Javier Romo. The two Spaniards argued over the length of their turns in the final kilometers, but with the chasers closing in, they were forced to keep working together until the line. In the sprint, Ayuso proved the strongest, powering clear to take his second stage win of this year’s race, in what has been a dramatic week for him.

Behind the stage drama, Jonas Vingegaard continues to hold the overall lead. The Dane has 50 seconds on João Almeida, with Tom Pidcock in third at 56 seconds back. The general classification remains extremely close, as all of the top ten riders sit within three minutes of Vingegaard, with Giulio Pellizzari in 10th at 2 minutes 44 seconds.

The result added to Ayuso’s turbulent week, as he celebrates success on the road while dealing with controversy off it. His victory ensures UAE Team Emirates remains central to the story of this Vuelta, with their 5th win in 12 stages so far, even as the overall battle stays finely balanced.

Tomorrow brings the feared Alto de l’Angliru, where the race could be turned upside down. When the climb last appeared in 2023, Primoz Roglic and Vingegaard distanced their own teammate Sepp Kuss in a dramatic moment. With such small gaps at the top, the Angliru is set to decide who truly has the strength to fight for red.