John Degenkolb completes Vuelta hat-trick in Logrono

John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) claimed his third victory of this year’s Vuelta a Espana after a frantic finale in Logrono today.

A messy sprint saw a select group of 13 riders approach the line together, and despite attacks by Fabian Cancellara (Trek) and Tom Boonen (Omega-Pharma - Quick-Step), Degenkolb had the measure of those in his wheel.

Boonen came second, followed by Astana’s Jacopo Guarnieri. Peter Sagan (Cannondale) came fourth.

Degenkolb strengthened his grip on the green jersey with the victory, as rival Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) did not contest the sprint.

The peloton was split into several groups in the final kilometre because of a big crash on the final corner. Orica-GreenEdge duo Michael Matthews and Mitch Docker were among those who came down, but the main GC contenders appear to have made it through the chaos unscathed.

Michael Valgren Anderson (Tinkoff-Saxo) led the peloton through the first two of the ten turns in the final four kilometres after sole breakaway rider Austrian Matthias Krizek (Cannondale) was inevitably caught by the peloton with 12 kilometres to go.

Yauheni Hutarovich (AG2R La Mondiale) joined Lampre-Merida’s Roberto Ferrari in launching a brave but doomed attack at 800 metres to go.

Results
Vuelta a Espana 2014, stage 12: Logrono - Logrono
1. John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Shimano 166.4km in 4-11-18
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step

3. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana

4. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale

5. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Lampre-Merida

6. Yannick Martinez (Fra) Europcar

7. Lloyd Mondory (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale

8. Fabian Cancellara (Sui) Trek Factory Racing

9. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing

10. Guillaume Boivin (Can) Cannondale all at st.

Overall classification after stage 12
1. Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 0-20

3. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma-Quick Step at 1-08

4. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky at 1-20

5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 1-35

6. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing at 1-52

7. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana at 2-13

8. Winner Anacona (Col) Lampre-Merida at 2-22

9. Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin at 2-38

10. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale at 3-51