Vuelta 2021: Cort wins in Córdoba, Eiking keeps La Roja

foto: Cor VosGiulio Ciccone, Romain Bardet, Jay Vine and Sergio Henao attack on the last climb. A reduced peloton brings them back in the streets of Córdoba before Magnus Cort sprints to victory. Christian Edd Eiking stays in the GC lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 12th stage Vuelta a España 2021

1. Magnus Cort (den)
2. Andrea Bagioli (ita) s.t.
3. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
4. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.
5. Andreas Kron (den) s.t.
6. Felix Großschartner (aut) s.t.
7. Antonio Jesus Soto s.t.
8. Anthony Roux (fra) s.t.
9. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) s.t.
10. Martijn Tusveld (nld) s.t.

GC after stage 12
1. Odd Christian Eiking (nor)
2. Guillaume Martin (fra) + 0.58
3. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 1.56
4. Enric Mas (spa) + 2.31
5. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 3.28
6. Jack Haig (aus) + 3.55
7. Egan Bernal (col) + 4.46
8. Adam Yates (gbr) + 4.57
9. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 5.03
10. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 5.38

Race report
After 80 kilometres of hard racing Mikel Iturria, Sebastian Berwick and Sander Armée jump clear. Stan Dewulf, Maxim van Gils, Chad Haga, Jetse Bol and Julen Amezqueta join the attackers.

Haga can’t follow the pace on the Alto de San Jeronimo, while Iturria is the first rider at the summit. The Basque pushes on in the descent, but he is brought back in Córdoba.

Van Gils goes solo on the Alto del 14%. Ciccone and Vine counterattack as soon as the Flemish rider is brought back. Bardet and Henao bridge across.

The four reach the summit 27 seconds ahead of a decimated peloton before extending their lead slightly in the descent.

Team BikeExchange and Team Emirates bring them back in the streets of Córdoba for their leader Matthews and Trentin. Yet, Keukeleire comes storming past just before entering the final straight, performing a perfect lead out for Cort.

The Vuelta revelation does not disappoint and the Dane powers to victory ahead of Bagioli, while Matthews finishes in third.

Eiking finishes in the peloton to keep the red jersey.

Another interesting read: route 12th stage 2021 Vuelta.