MADRID/LONDON, 5th September, 2025 (WAM) - Juan Ayuso added another impressive victory to his palmars with a commanding win on stage 12 of the Vuelta a Espana, 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 some excellent teamwork from his compatriot and teammate Marc Soler.
The stage route comprised a short but punishing 144.9km medium mountain profile which packed nearly 2,400meters of elevation gain and featuring two decisive climbs: the Alto de Alisas(8.6km at 5.8%), early in the stage to ignite the pace, followed in the finale by the brutal 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 metres to take the win. In doing so, the Spaniard moves UAE Team Emirates-XRG to 78 wins for the 2025 campaign.
The result adds to an already extremely successful Vuelta for UAE Team Emirates XRG who take their fifth victory, with a team victory on the stage 4 TTT, coupled with Ayuso and Jay Vine taking four stages between them, highlighting 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 Joao Almeida for the general classification challenges ahead.
Tomorrow's stage13 looms as one of the most formidable challenges of this Vuelta. The legendary Alto de l'Angliru, with its punishing gradients, could well prove decisive for the general glassification. With the treacherous Asturian climbs on the horizon, UAE Team Emirates XRG's Almeida remains firmly in the hunt for overall honours.
Meanwhile, Rui Oliveira delivered a standout performance in stage3 of the Tour of Britain, finishing a commendable third behind Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Alberto Dainese (Tudor Pro Cycling).
The 122.8km 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.
