PREVIEW | Vuelta a Espana 2023 stage 12 - Before the high mountains, a return to the bunch sprint

Preview. The Vuelta a Espana is about to grow in difficulty, but before returning to the Pyrenees, the riders will still find one flat stage on stage 12 where a bunch sprint is expected.

Stage 12 will be one of the brief but valuable opportunities for the pure sprinters. The day sees the riders go through 151 kilometers eastwards towards Zaragoza for a virtually inevitable bunch sprint. A seeming tradition in this year's route, the start line is at 989 meters of altitude and the finish at 210, so overall a downhill profile to the day.

However on this day there is very little to report, there are few obstacles for the fast men. A small hilltop after around 33 kilometers and another after 110. These won't be true climbs however, only the wind can cause difficulties on a day like this for a Grand Tour peloton.

However the riders will find an urban sprint. Entering Zaragoza, they then face a ride through the city, not overly technical but road furniture, section where the road width changes are always present. The main point to take into consideration will be the corner with 1.3 kilometers to go which is the final one, but from there on there is still space to regain position, the finale is flat and without anything unusual.

Easy day on paper but anything but on the road. Over 30 degrees in a day that'll be almost completely in dry areas with no shade and a modest breeze from the southeast. Some moments of tension as echelons are possible, but long stints of headwind will also be ridden.

Kaden Groves - It can't be said that anything has changed since the last sprint stage. All the main favourites remain and the field remains the same. It is very modest, Kaden Groves is on a league of his own with current form but a sprint is not just about the max watts. The Australian has full focus of Alpecin, a perfect leadout is not assured, but if he starts from the front no-one is overtaking the Australian.

What can be said of the rest of the field? As we've seen from Geoffrey Soupe's victory, the win can come from who has timed the move the best. The field is very spread out, the difference between the fast men present is not big and there isn't a team with an overwhelming leadout, hence the win can come from many riders. Filippo Ganna has already taken his win but INEOS will surely support him now instead of just allowing so he'll be interesting to watch, whilst Juan Sebastián Molano and Alberto Dainese are the two other pure sprinters that can have their luck this time around if they fit all of the pieces of the puzzle.

Behind them are plenty other fast men who will seek a surprise win. Orluis Aular was second in the last sprint and a victory would make Caja Rural's year. Edward Theuns, Marijn van den Berg, Milan Menten, Lewis Askey, Ivan García Cortina, Andrea Vendrame, Hugo Hofstetter and Dries van Gestel are all riders capable of finding themselves within the first places on this day.

*** Kaden Groves
** Juan Sebastián Molano, Filippo Ganna
* Edward Theuns, Alberto Dainese, Marijn van den Berg, Dries van Gestel, Milan Menten, Orluis Aular, Geoffrey Soupe

Pick: Kaden Groves