Stage 12 of La Vuelta a España 2023 was a fast 150.6-kilometer ride from Olvega to Zaragoza – home of the Basilica del Pilar, La Seo Cathedral and the Aljaferia Palace. The stage profile appeared appealing to the fastest sprinters in the peloton.

As expected, the general classification favorites had decided to relax in today’s stage to conserve energy for tomorrow’s stage 13 mountain ride, which will have the riders pay a visit to France to compete on the Col du Tourmalet. The sprinter teams, therefore, had no problem with setting an easy and controllable pace for much of the stage as the GC favorites did not want to use the stage to their advantage.

The intermediate sprint of the day was won by Kaden Groves ahead of Remco Evenepoel and Andreas Kron. By finishing second in the sprint, Evenepoel again gained valuable bonification seconds in the general classification. 

Eighteen kilometers from the finish line the Bahrain-Victorious team moved to the front of the peloton and set a fast pace hoping to be able to use the strong sidewinds to cause a split in the peloton.

The peloton was not split and the sprinter teams started setting up their sprint trains for their fast men.

Not least the Alpecin-Deceuninck team was active at the front for its sprinter Kaden Groves. But also teams such as UAE Team Emirates, Lidl-Trek and EF Education-EasyPost were active.

With one kilometer left the Alpecin-Deceunick sprint train was still at the front. Other sprinters were fighting to get on the rear wheel of Groves.

UAE Team Emirates accelerated and launched Juan Sebastian Molano who was first across the finish line. Groves finished second, despite stepping out of his pedal in the sprint. Boy van Poppel completed the stage podium.

“I am very happy to take the win today,” stage winner Molano told Roadcycling.com shortly after the finish. “It is something very special for me to win a stage in La Vuelta and it makes be very happy,” Molano added. 

There were no significant changes to the general classification and Sepp Kuss, therefore, remains overall leader of the Tour of Spain 2023.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for 2023 La Vuelta a Espana coverage.

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