Vuelta a España (st. 12)

Valverde stays 2nd overall in the Vuelta after calm stage twelve takes bunch through parade in and around Logroño; crash with 1km remaining not affecting any Movistar Team riders

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Fully focused now on helping Alejandro Valverde after Nairo Quintana’s disgraceful abandon yesterday, the Movistar Team riders covered an unnnoticeable stage twelve in the Vuelta a España, an eight-lap, 166km circuit in Logroño where the favourites recovered energy before four consecutive mountain stages in the north of Spain, including tomorrow’s uphill finish in Cabárceno (Cantabria) after the ascents of Estacas de Trueba (Cat-3), la Braguía (Cat-3) and the Caracol (Cat-2).

German John Degenkolb (GIA) claimed his third stage win in the race after dominating a sprint broken up by a crash with just over 1km remaining, which did not affect neither the telephone squad nor any of the favourites. The GC stays thus the same, with Valverde in 2nd place -20″ behind Contador (TCS)- as the Movistar riders and Alejandro lead both Teams’ and Combination standings.