Team Dimension Data’s Kristian Sbaragli finished in fourth place on stage 12 of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday.
Jens Keukeleire (Orice-BikeExhange) won the stage and Maxime Bouet (Etixx-QuickStep) and Fabio Felline (Trek-Segafredo) rounded out the podium, with the latter just getting the better of Sbaragli on the line.
Team Dimension Data’s Kristian Sbaragli claimed fourth place on stage 12 of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday. Photo: Stiehl Photography
Wearing the King of the Mountains (KOM) jersey on behalf of GC leader Nairo Quintana, Omar Fraile had to settle for a ride in the peloton, but played an important role in helping Sbaragli.
It was a long time until a group of six riders managed to form the break of the day.
On the category 1 Puerto de las Alisas, Peter Kennaugh, David Lopez (both Sky), Darwin Atapuma (BMC), Romain Hardy (Cofidis), Kenny Elissonde (FDJ), and Louis Meintjes (Lampre-Merida) reached the summit at the 50km mark with a gap over the peloton.
Atapuma was the first to drop out of the lead group after crashing on the first descent.
The other five continued, but weren’t able to grow their gap beyond the three-minute mark.
In the end they were reeled back on the El Vivero, a category 2 climb which needed to be ridden twice, with 18km left.
Dries Devenyns (IAM) was the next to try his luck. He crossed the summit alone, 30″ ahead of the group of the GC favourites, in which the African team featured as well.
Sbaragli was one of them and when it all came back together with 1.5km to go, he found himself in a good position.
A late attack by Simon Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) in the final put his teammate Keukeleire in a great position. When the Australian was caught, Keukeleire could open the sprint.
Nathan Haas fell ill and wasn’t able to finish the stage within the time limit.
