2023-09-07 16:03:00
Juan Sebastian Molano gets his revenge! Overwhelmed in Tarragona in the very last meters of the 4th stage, the Colombian of UAE Team Emirates this time ran to perfection to win the 12th stage in Zaragoza in the sprint. Perfectly launched by Rui Oliveira, he beat the favorite and green jersey Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Boy Van Poppel (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) to offer himself his 2nd victory in the Vuelta, following that won last year. to Madrid. No change in the general, even if Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) took advantage of the intermediate sprint to grab 4” of bonuses.
Oliveira’s masterclass, Molano’s opportunism: UAE’s sprint model dissected with a palette
It must have been a day full of dangers for the climbers, with a very flat stage towards Zaragoza and its often windswept region, but the only danger that awaited the runners was a fall for… due to boredom . Which obviously did not prevent having one, precisely, but without gravity, whether for Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) or Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step) in particular.
Entry exit, the breakaway made up of Jetse Bol (Burgos-BH) and Abel Balderstone (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) never posed the slightest problem to the peloton and the Alpecin-Deceuninck, the only formation to ensure the pursuit behind a duo that has never been more than 2’30” ahead.
Oliveira, a pilot fish lesson
Once the breakaway was retaken more than 38 kilometers from the finish, the peloton sped towards Zaragoza, with tension that continued to increase, especially as they approached the intermediate sprint. The opportunity obviously for Kaden Groves to increase his lead in the points classification but also and above all for Primoz Roglic to glean a 4” bonus from all his opponents. A negligible gain but which allows the Slovenian to return to 1’32” behind his teammate and red jersey Sepp Kuss and 23” from Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step).
How Roglic nibbled 4″… before getting a scare
Perfectly in place in the final, with four teammates in front of Groves 2.6km from the finish, Alpecin-Deceuncik seemed on a royal path to take the Australian to a third success in this Tour of Spain, but the Belgian formation is once once more trapped. Unable to lead at a sufficient pace, they were overtaken 300m from the line by the UAE Team Emirates duo Rui Oliveira-Juan Sebastian Molano, who came from behind at the best of times.
Ideally launched by the Portuguese, author of a “pilot fish lesson”, the Colombian only had to finish the job and he was not long in coming, despite the return of Groves. A year following his success in Madrid, Molano offers his second success in the Grand Tour, his second in the Vuelta and his 4th of the season. His record since his move to the professionals. And a great reward for the UAE Team Emirates formation, author of an almost perfect first half of Vuelta.
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