Sprinters hoping for Vuelta a España success in Zaragoza – Stage 12 preview

Stage 12: Ólvega to Zaragoza

Date: September 7

Distance: 151km

Stage type: Flat

Stage 12 of the Vuelta a España takes the peloton closer to the Pyrenees in north-eastern Spain and provides the sprinters a rare opportunity for success in this year's mountainous race. 

Kaden Groves and his Alpecin-Deceuninck team will be doing everything in their power to make sure it comes down to a bunch battle before a weekend of suffering in the Pyrenees.  

The Australian has dominated the few sprints of the race so far, claiming victory on stages 4 and 5, but was left rueing a missed opportunity on stage 7 in Oliva, when outsider Geoffrey Soupe (TotalEnergies) spoiled the sprinters' party with a late acceleration. 

It is not a scenario he expects will transpire again.

“It is actually a less technical final, I think that might play a part, a more straightforward run in, big road," Groves told Eurosport, predicting the outcome of the stage.

"Sure there are some critical points but there is no final corner or anything like this – so I think it suits us really well with the horsepower.”

First, however, the sprint teams have to make sure the escapees don't take the prize, with Groves expecting that the team will have to shoulder much of the work during the stage to manage the break. 

"Hopefully we can control for a small breakaway, like we have in every other stage, and then we have a sprint at the end,” he said.

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It's not a purely flat day, with the stage featuring terrain for a breakaway attempt.

There are no classified climbs on the route, but there is a sharp ascent just past Tarazona in the opening 30km could signal accelerations for a breakaway.  

After a long, gradual descent, there is a gradual uphill section of 36km through the Aragon region, setting up the prolonged downhill of 50km to the finish. In fact, there is more descending than climbing en route to Zaragoza, which has not seen the Vuelta for 15 years. 

Organisers have warned that winds could aid the development of echelons on the stage, so riders – including the GC contenders – will need to be wary. 

In 2008 it came down to a sprint finish, and the same is expected in 2023 particularly given the teams of the fast men have had a couple of days to sit back and let the GC and break riders take their turn.