Bak attacks to win Giro stage 12
Giro d'Italia 2012 stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson>>
Lars Bak (Lotto Belisol) has won stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia after the break succeeded on a short but challenging day in the Cinque Terre region of Italy. Bak caught his break-mates napping with 1.5km and soloed through the final hairpins to win alone.
Overnight leader Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) narrowly kept hold of his pink jersey after Sandy Casar (FDJ-BigMat), four minutes down on the GC at the start of the day, crossed the line in second having been part of the break all day.
Although the Frenchman picked up 12 bonus seconds, the peloton steamed in three and a half minutes later to cruelly deny him a stint in the maglia rosa.
It took around 50km for the day's break to form, but for those involved it was worth the wait. Lars Bak, Sandy Casar, Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan), Ivan Santaromita (BMC Racing), Andrei Amador (Movistar), Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM), Jackson Rodriguez (Androni-Giacottoli) and Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) established a lead that at one point reached seven minutes.
The inclusion of four categorised climbs made the stage no less difficult than yesterday's epic and the peloton seemed content to let the break go away. Casar was the best placed on the overall classification and was the virtual maglia rosa by over three minutes before the bunch woke up and became aware of his threat.
It soon became a question of how much time the escapees could hold onto along the sinuous roads of Italy's northwestern coast. As Liquigas-Cannondale dragged the peloton closer, the break began a dangerous game of cat and mouse on the approach to the finish.
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Seizing a moment of inattention, Lars Bak made the jump in the final mile and used his power to ride flat out to the finish: a deserved win for one of the peloton's most hard-working domestiques.
Casar narrowly pipped Amador for second place but, with the peloton at full speed, it wasn't quite enough. He finished the day third on the GC ahead of break companion Ivan Santaromita in fifth, although with the high mountains looming it will likely be a short stay for the pair as the favourites start to make their moves.
Tomorrow's stage 13 is the shortest stage of this year's race and could be one for the sprinters if they can negotiate the early climb. Follow all the action on Cycling Weekly's live coverage from tomorrow afternoon.
Results
Giro d'Italia stage 12, Seravezza - Sestri Levante, 155km
1. Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto-Belisol 3h 58'55"
2. Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-BigMat at 11"
3. Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar s.t.
4. Jan Bakelants (Bel) Radioshack-Nissan s.t.
5. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing s.t.
6. Jacskon Rodriguez (Ven) Androni-Giocattoli s.t.
7. Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi s.t.
8. Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 43"
9. Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quickstep at 48"
10. Juan Antonio Flecha (Esp) Sky at 3'34"
Overall classification after stage 12
1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha 51h 19'08"
2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 17"
3. Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-BigMat at 26"
4. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana at 32"
5. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing at 49"
6. Roman Kreuziger (Svk) Astana at 52"
7. Benat Intxausti (Esp) Movistar s.t.
8. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 57"
Lars Bak celebrates his stage win
Another day, another pair of glasses. Joaquin Rodriguez in the lead
Giro d'Italia 2012: Latest news
Hesjedal happy with Giro performance despite losing lead
Pinotti alters Giro plans after losing time in mountains
Pozzato apologises for role in causing crash
Hesjedal has tough day as Giro leader
Schleck building form in Giro for final week in Alps
English speakers on top
Giro favourites to make move in first mountain finish
Malori will relish time in Giro lead
Sky's Giro team time trial disappointment
Phinney's terrible day sees Giro lead slip away
Teams ready for Giro's team time trial
Phinney given all-clear after Giro crash
Ferrari should be ashamed of Giro sprint, says Cavendish
Giro remembers Wouter Weylandt
Cavendish and Thomas a winning combo, says Brailsford
Geraint Thomas narrowly misses out on Giro lead
Phinney realises Giro dream
Giro d'Italia 2012: Live coverage
Giro d'Italia 2012 live text coverage schedule
Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage reports
Stage 11: Ferrari wins Giro stage on ride to redemption
Stage 10: Rodriguez wins thrilling finale to take leadStage nine: Ventoso wins in Frosinone as Goss and Cavendish fall
Stage eight: Pozzovivo takes another Giro win
Stage seven: Hesjedal moves into Giro lead
Stage six: Rubiano solos to epic Giro stage win
Stage five: Cavendish bounces back for another stage win
Stage four: Garmin-Barracuda win TTT to take lead
Stage three: Goss wins in Horsens as Cavendish and Phinney crash
Stage two: Cavendish wins in Herning
Stage one: Phinney wins time trial
Giro d'Italia 2012: Photo galleries
Stage 11 photo gallery
Stage 10 photo gallery
Stage nine photo gallery
Stage eight photo gallery
Stage seven photo gallery
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one photo gallery
Giro d'Italia 2012: Teams and riders
Giro d'Italia 2012 start list
Giro d'Italia 2012: TV guide
Giro d'Italia 2012: British Eurosport TV schedule
Related links
Giro d'Italia 2012: The Big Preview
Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia section
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Richard Abraham is an award-winning writer, based in New Zealand. He has reported from major sporting events including the Tour de France and Olympic Games, and is also a part-time travel guide who has delivered luxury cycle tours and events across Europe. In 2019 he was awarded Writer of the Year at the PPA Awards.
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