After the queen stage, the Vuelta a Espana granted a simplier day to the peloton. The big news was that, after a series of presences in the main breakaways on the Spanish roads, no LAMPRE-MERIDA riders was among the 5 riders who escaped from the peloton in the 12th stage.

The battle between the brekaaway and the bunch ended only in the final kilometer and LAMPRE-MERIDA gave their contribution to the chase because the team wanted to win the sprint with Maximilano Richeze.

The breakaway was neutralized on the final straight and, in the frantic and very long sprint, Richeze found himself  in the front positions too early so he had to stop his effor for some seconds and then try to increase the speed again. It was too difficult and he crossed the finish line in 12th position.

"The target for today's stage was to support Richeze in view of a possible sprint, in which we were aware that Maximiliano could have obtained a good result," sports director Orlando Maini explained. "In order to achieve this goal, we gave our contribution to neutralize the breakaway, then in the final kilometers other teams completed the chase.

"Unfortunately, in the heat of the sprint, Richeze was in the front too early and for him it became too difficult to battle for the win."