UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Ayuso outfoxes Romo to win Vuelta stage 12

UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Juan Ayuso outsmarted compatriot Javier Romo (Movistar) to win stage 12 of the Vuelta a Espana on Thursday, his second stage win of this year’s race, with Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard retaining the overall lead.

Ayuso, who went solo to win stage seven, had Romo for company for the final 25 kilometres of the 144.9km ride from Laredo to Los Corrales de Buelna and timed his final move to perfection to overtake Romo close to the line.

“After such a hard day, you don’t know, and I had to play my cards,” Ayuso said, adding that his team car had instructed him to ride tactically and make Romo believe he would need to “pull more” if he wanted a chance of winning the stage. “I had to make him a bit nervous,” he said.

France’s Brieuc Rolland (Groupama-FDJ) came in 13 seconds behind in third having threatened to bridge the gap in the final kilometres, while Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished safely in the peloton which ambled in over six minutes later.

There was no change at the top of the general classification, with Vingegaard maintaining his 50-second lead over Portugal’s Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) with Briton Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) a further six seconds back in third.

Ayuso has had an eventful Vuelta so far. Aside from his two stage wins, having begun as one of the riders tipped to challenge favourite Vingegaard, the 22-year-old has also lost chunks of time after getting dropped on climbs.

The Spaniard’s exit from UAE Team Emirates-XRG was announced on Monday’s rest day, much to the anger of Ayuso who heavily

criticised the timing of the statement the following day.

Reuters