Vuelta 2018 Stage 12: Geniez wins five-up sprint, Jesús Herrada new leader

The 12th stage of the Vuelta runs on a challenging course to Faro de Estaca de Bares, the northernmost point of Spain. The breakaway stays away during a hard and rainy day in the saddle. Alexandre Geniez pips Dylan van Baarle for the win, while Jesús Herrada moves into the overall lead. The peloton crosses the line more than 11 minutes after the stage winner. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 12th stage 2018 Vuelta a España

1. Alexandre Geniez (fra)
2. Dylan van Baarle (nld) s.t.
3. Mark Padun (ukr) s.t.
4. Dylan Teuns (bel) s.t.
5. Victor Campenaerts (bel) + 0.02
6. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.05
7. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) + 0.24
8. Dries Devenyns (bel) + 0.48
9. Thomas De Gendt (bel) + 2.27
10. Valerio Conti (ita) + 2.29

16. Jesús Herrada (spa) + 2.32

Bunch at 11.39

GC after the 12th stage
1. Jesús Herrada (spa)
2. Simon Yates (gbr) + 3.22
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 3.23
4. Nairo Quintana (col) + 3.36
5. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 3.39
6. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 3.46
7. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) s.t.
8. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 3.49
9. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 3.54
10. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 4.05

11. George Bennett (nzl) + 4.05
12. Enric Mas (spa) + 4.37
13. David de la Cruz (spa) + 4.55
14. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) + 5.03
15. Fabio Aru (ita) + 5.11
16. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 5.12
17. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 5.32
18. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 5.42

Race report
Shortly after the start the riders tackle the Alto de Cadeira, a 5.8 kms climb at 6.5%. A group of 18 riders jumps clear, including one multiple Grand Tour winner and a renowned breakaway specialist. They put more than 11 minutes into the peloton.

The front group features Vincenzo Nibali, Thomas De Gendt, Dries Devenyns, Victor Campenaerts, Davide Formolo, Valerio Conti, Mark Padun, Dylan van Baarle, Dylan Teuns, Alexandre Geniez, Amanuel Gebregziabher, Tiago Machado, Gianluca Brambilla, Pablo Torres, Jonathan Lastra, Lluis Mas, Jesús Herrada and Mikel Bizkarra.

As the gap stabilises at 11 minutes, Herrada is riding into red. He was trailing Simon Yates by 5.45 minutes ahead of the 12th stage.

With 22 kms to go Campenaerts strikes with Formolo, Brambilla and Padun on his wheel. Van Baarle, Teuns, Devenyns and Geniez close the gap later. The other riders fade into the background.

The front group plays cat-and-mouse in the last kms. Teuns, Formolo, Padun and Campenaerts open up a gap with 6 kms remaining before Van Baarle and Geniez close it down.

Geniez opens up the sprint and Van Baarle jumps to his wheel, but the Dutchman is not able to overhaul the Frenchman on the narrow roads. Padun finishes third.

The peloton with red jersey Yates crosses the line 9 minutes after Herrada, who thus moves into the overall lead with a 3.22 minutes lead over Yates.