A Calm Day in Vuelta a Espana Sets the Stage for Tourmalet
Stage 12 of the Vuelta a Espana provided a much-needed break for the riders, with a relatively calm ride from Olvega to Zaragoza. The stage featured no major climbs, allowing the sprinters to shine. Juan Sebastian Molano emerged victorious in the bunch sprint, while Sam Watson of Groupama-FDJ finished in 18th place. However, the calmness of the day will be replaced by a challenging stage on Friday, as the riders face three major climbs in the French Pyrenees, including the daunting Col du Tourmalet.
The absence of challenging terrain on Stage 12 allowed the riders to catch their breath before the tough days ahead. The lack of winds and climbs meant that the peloton could focus on the sprint. “We were lucky today because there was a front wind for most of the day,” said Benoît Vaugrenard. “Fortunately, because the roads were very exposed, and a lot could have happened if the wind had blown in the other direction.”
The stage unfolded in a typical manner, with only two riders, Jetse Bol and Abel Balderstone, attempting a breakaway. However, their efforts were thwarted by the Alpecin-Deceuninck team, and the duo was caught before the final 40 kilometers. “It was a rather calm stage,” said Vaugrenard. “That said, they still did 150 kilometers and it all counts and adds up.” The race became more eventful in the last twenty kilometers, with a bonus sprint and the preparation for the bunch finish.
The day was not without its negative moments, as Rudy Molard of Groupama-FDJ suffered a crash in the early part of the stage. Vaugrenard described the crash as the “day’s big negative point” and expressed concern for Molard’s well-being. Despite the crash, Lenny Martinez managed to maintain his fifth position in the general classification.
Looking ahead to Friday’s stage, Vaugrenard acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. The stage, although shorter at 134 kilometers, will include the Col d’Aubisque and the Col de Spandelles before the iconic Col du Tourmalet. “It’s a tough program, one of the most intense stages with one of the greatest elevation gains,” said Vaugrenard. “We expect a hard start and a big fight because some teams want to isolate Evenepoel.”
With the calm stage behind them, the riders of the Vuelta a Espana are now gearing up for the grueling challenge of the French Pyrenees and the iconic Col du Tourmalet.
