Sagan takes second 2011 Vuelta stage win

Vuelta a Espana 2011, stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson>>

Peter Sagan (Liquigas) picked up his second stage win of this year's Vuelta a Espana in a sprint finish at Pontevedra on Thursday.

The Slovakian outkicked John Degenkolb (HTC-Highroad) and Daniele Bennati (Leopard-Trek) to the line, as a twisting run-in caused small splits in the bunch.

Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) and Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana) profited most from the resulting time gaps. Of the GC contenders, only they gained time on their rivals, with Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) four seconds back and Britain's Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins (both Team Sky), and the other favourites trailing by a further second.

Fabian Cancellara (Leopard-Trek) led the sprint out, doing a characteristically long and brutal turn on the front in the final kilometres. Sagan was sat on Bennati's wheel as Cancellara peeled off, and jumped past the Italian as the sprinters closed in on the finish.

Wiggins remains in the leader's jersey, with his steward Froome still in second. Kessiakoff moves up into third at the expense of Nibali as a result of the stage, leading him by one second and trailing Froome by two.

On Friday, the riders face another testing day in the mountains on stage 13, a 158.2km trip from Sarria to Ponferrada.

Results

Vuelta a Espana 2011, stage 12: Ponteareas to Pontevedra, 167.3km

1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale

2. John Degenkolb (Ger) HTC-Highroad

3. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Leopard-Trek

4. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-ISD

5. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank-Sungard

6. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step

7. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing

8. Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank

9. Nikolas Maes (Bel) Quick Step

10. Lloyd Mondory (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale all same time

Other

16. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 4 secs

29. Chris Froome (GB) Sky at 5 secs

32. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Sky at 5 secs

96. Ian Stannard (GB) Sky at 37 secs

Overall classification after stage 12

1. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Sky in 46-53-47

2. Chris Froome (GB) Sky at 7 secs

3. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana at 9 secs

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 10 secs

5. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard-Trek at 19 secs

6. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank at 36 secs

7. Maxime Monfort (Bel) Leopard-Trek at 1-06

8. Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Geox-TMC at 1-27

9. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) RadioShack at 1-53

10. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) RadioShack at 2-00

Peter Sagan grabs his second stage win of the 2011 race

Bradley Wiggins maintains his overall lead

Vuelta a Espana 2011: Related links

Vuelta a Espana 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Vuelta a Espana 2011: Latest news

Wiggins says he will give it 100 per cent to defend Vuelta lead

Vuelta tackles unknown mountain top finish today

Froome: "This lead is a big milestone"

Wiggins in Vuelta: "We're in an amazing position"

Dan Martin delighted with King of the Mountains jersey

Sky dominates in Vuelta a Espana

Martin delighted with first ever grand tour stage win

Wiggins: A fantastic finish

Interview: Wiggins looks ahead of crucial three days of Vuelta

Farrar taken to hospital after Vuelta crash

Arvesen quits Vuelta with crash injuries

Anton suffers again but Rodriguez becomes Spain's top contender

Wiggins pleased with strong ride in Spanish sierras

Cavendish abandons Vuelta a Espana

Vuelta a Espana 2011: Teams, riders, start list

Vuelta a Espana 2011: Who's riding?

Vuelta a Espana 2011 team list

Vuelta a Espana 2011

: Stage reports

Stage 11: Wiggins takes overall lead as Moncoutie wins stage

Stage 10: Brit Froome moves into overall Vuelta lead after time trial

Stage nine: Martin wins as Wiggins moves further up GC

Stage eight: Rodriguez wins again to take overall lead

Stage seven: Kittel wins chaotic bunch sprint

Stage six: Sagan takes Vuelta stage win in controversial circumstances

Stage five: Rodriguez takes second win for Katusha but Chavanel holds on

Stage four: Moreno wins first mountain skirmish at Sierra Nevada

Stage three: Lastras solos to stage and takes red jersey

Stage two: Sutton grabs stage win to set things right for Sky

Stage one: Leopard-Trek win opening TTT to put Fuglsang in front

Vuelta a Espana 2011: Photo galleries

By Graham Watson

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

Vuelta a Espana 2011: TV guide

Vuelta a Espana 2011: ITV4 TV schedule

Vuelta a Espana 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule

ITV to show 2011 Vuelta