Soler lands another podium at La Vuelta

UAE Team Emirates placed two riders in the top-5 of the 12th stage of the Vuelta a Espana, 192.7km from Salobrena to Penas Blancas with Marc Soler and Jan Polanc placing 3rd and 4th respectively.

Today’s stage was characterized by a big escape of 32 riders formed in the first flat part of the course.
Among them were Oliveira, Soler and Polanc who, together with the other escapees, imposed a gap of almost 11 minutes on the group of the GC men.

The final ascent, 20km at 6.7% average, began to create the first gaps between the leaders, with Polanc attacking first and then staying with the five leading men and Soler, initially detached, recovering positions.

Finally, no one managed to respond to Carapaz’s (Ineos-Grenadiers) kick in the last 2km: the Olympic champion was thus able to cross the finish line first, followed by Kelderman (BORA-hansgrohe) and the duo of Soler-Polanc.

Soler: “I’m happy with my condition but disappointed not to be able to win again, Carapaz was just too strong today. We have a very good team here with interest also in the GC through Ayuso and Almeida so we’re excited for the next part of the race.”

UAE Team Emirates leads the team standings ahead of tomorrow’s stage: 168.4 km between Ronda and Montilla.

Results 12th stage:

 
1.Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) 4h38’26 ”
2.Wilco Kelderman (BORA-hansgrohe) +9 ”
3.Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) + 24 “
4.Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) +26 “

General classification after the 13th stage:

 
1.Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quickstep) 44h25’09 ”
2.Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) + 2’41 ”
3.Enric Mas (Movistar) + 3’03 ”
5.Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) + 4’53 “
8.Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) + 7’18 “