Madrid: Juan Ayuso added another victory to his palmar¨s with a commanding win on stage 12 of the Vuelta a Espa±a, marking his second stage success in this year's edition of the race. The UAE Team Emirates XRG rider timed his effort to perfection in a two-up sprint with Javier Romo (Movistar) at the end of the hilly stage from Laredo to Los Corrales de Buelna after teamwork from his compatriot and teammate Marc Soler.
According to Emirates News Agency, the stage route comprised a short but punishing 144.9 km medium mountain profile which packed nearly 2,400 meters of elevation gain and featured two decisive climbs: the Alto de Alisas (8.6km at 5.8%), early in the stage to ignite the pace, followed by the Collada de Brenes (7km at 7.9%) cresting around 23km from the line. After an active and tactical day of racing, Ayuso launched his sprint with precision, powering past Romo in the final meters to take the win. In doing so, the Spaniard moved UAE Team Emirates-XRG to 78 wins for the 2025 campaign.
The result adds to an already successful Vuelta for UAE Team Emirates XRG, who take their fifth victory, with a team victory on stage 4 TTT, coupled with Ayuso and Jay Vine taking four stages between them. This highlights the squad's strength as the race moves into its decisive mountain stages. UAE Team Emirates XRG remains focused on stage wins and supporting its leader Joo Almeida for the general classification challenges ahead.
Tomorrow's stage 13 looms as one of the most formidable challenges of this Vuelta. The legendary Alto de l'Angliru, with its punishing gradients, could prove decisive for the general classification. With the Asturian climbs on the horizon, UAE Team Emirates XRG's Almeida remains in the hunt for overall honors.
Meanwhile, Rui Oliveira delivered a performance in stage 3 of the Tour of Britain, finishing third behind Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Alberto Dainese (Tudor Pro Cycling). The 122.8 km stage from Milton Keynes to Ampthill culminated in a high-speed bunch sprint, where Oliveira showcased both his tactical awareness and sprinting capability, as the race prepares to hit the hills.