Hello and welcome to🐬 🉐stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia!

It's a day for the sprinters today, a week on from their la༺st showdown on stage🉐 6 in Naples.

2025 Giro d'Italia stage 12 preview - A day for the sprinters in Viadana

Points leader 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) will be looking for a fourth stage win, Visma-Lease a Bike will be looking for a sprint win with 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Olav Kooij, and look out for other strong sprinters 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Casper van Uden (Picnic PostNL), 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondia🍨le), Orluis Aular (Movistar), Maikel Zijlaard (Tudor), an💧d Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech).

Here's a look at the stage 12 map.

Giro d'Italia: Richard Carapaz attacks late for solo victory on stage 11

Maglia rosa Isaac del Toro best in bunch sprint ahead of Giulio Ciccone and T💫om Pidcoc✱k

A look back at the results of We൲dnesday's 𒅌stage 11...

'We cannot control everything' - UAE Team Emirates-XRG adapt strategy as Isaac del Toro learns patience at Giro d'Italia

Unexpected stage 11 results gives race 💦leader a few more seconds as 'teamwork was amazing on the climb'

Ma🔯ds Pedersen put on the Maglia Ciclamino at yesterday’s podium ceremony for the eleventh consecutive stage at the Giro, and currently holds a huge lead of 89 points of Alessandro Tonelli, and 98 points over the next genuine contender, Olav Kooij. 

As a stage predominantly flat🅷, this could be a rare chance for purer sprinters like Kooij to at least close some o♌f that seemingly-insurmountable gap.

Despite having already won three stages▨ at this Giro, Pedersen played down his chances in a pre-race interview, and claimed Lidl-Trek won’t be controlling the peloton. “I know I’ಞm not the best sprinter, so why should we catch the breakaway?” he told TNT Sports. “It’s completely up to the other teams. You won’t see us pulling at all.”

🌟So if not Pedersen, who is the favourite for the stage win? 

The last bunch sprint in Naples saw Kaden Groves triumph, showing a serious turn o꧂f speed to take the win ahead of Milan Fretin and Paul Magnier. The Australian tends to remain strong deep into Grand Tours, too, with four of his nine career stage wins coming in either the second and third week.

Theღ rider💧s are on the move, leaving the unofficial start in Modena and awaiting the flag. 

Along with Groves, Olav Kooij is probably the quickest finisher when given the chance to sprint. Having finished second behind Casper van Uden on stage four in Lecce, he lost the wheel 𒊎of lead-out man Wout van Aert in Naples, but could benefit from the Belgian’s work now he’s beginning to find his top form again🥀.

The stage has been delayed a few moments, as Kaden Groves makes his way back to the b🍒unch after a mechanical. Better to have one during the first kilometre than the final kilometre.

We're still🍒 waiting for a few more rꦓiders to return to the peloton before starting. 

OFFICIAL START

And we're off!

Ten riders atta🌸ck straigh♏t away, but Visma aren't happy with that big a group, and shut it down.

It's not just the usual wildcard team⛦ suspe♑cts getting involved, but also riders from Astana and Groupama. 

Riders from Arkéa, Polti and Bardiani have gone clear, and already the sprinter teams are drawn out across🙈 the road slowing the peloton.

These three riders🙈 look like they will be the day's b𝓡reak.

The three riders are: 

Giosu&e💃grave; Epis (Arkéa - B&B Hotels)

Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group - Bardiani ♕CSF - Fai๊zanè)

Andrea Pietrobon (Polti VisitMalta)

The peloton sit up and comfort breaks are taken, while the gap grows to a minute ♈a𝓰lready. We have our break of the day.

The speed with which that break was formed, and the paucity of riders interested in getting into it, reveals hoಌw little faith riders have ﷽in it surviving to the finish today. There are a few difficulties on the route, but this really should be a sprint finish today.

Mechanical for Richard Carapaz, but no need to panic in such a calm atmosph🧸ere.&♍nbsp;

160KM TO GO

Already the gap has grown to 2-30. No team has taken𒐪 control of the peloton yet. 

The riders at the start in Modena, whileඣ in💖 the neutralised zone. 

With the gap grown to three minutes, the sprinters' teams have moved to the fr🃏ont of the peloton and began contrlling the pace. 

The teams doing the work are Grov꧃es’ Alpecin-Deceuninck, Kooij’s Visma-Le🍌ase a Bike, and Bennett’s Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale.

150KM TO GO

The teams leading the peloton are doing just enough to keep the gap at three minutes, after n🐓early half an hour of racing.

Here's Isaac del Toro at the start, about to begin his third day in the pink jersey. After Tuesday's time trial, and Wednesday's stage in the mountains, this will be the first time he can really relax and enjoy the jersey, without having t🌄o worry about the possibility of lo𝓡sing it.

As claimed by Pe♛dersen at the start, his Lidl-Trek team aren’t among those working at the front of the peloton. While he has been brilliant at this Giro andꦉ won three stages, in the pure sprints (like today is expected to be) he hasn't been quite so imperious, finishing fourth in Lecce and opting not to sprint in Naples.

140KM TO GO

The gap's come down these past few ki🅠lometres, to 2-20. The peloton aren't giving this trio even a hint of꧂ some hope at the moment. 

Although mostly flat, the stage isn’t without some coꦚmp🅺lications, and the riders are currently on the first of two categorised climbs. It rises at 3.3% for 9km.

Primož Roglič has needed a bike change following a mechanical. The Slovenian has been in the wars these past few days, hitting the deck twice, but still remains fifth on GC.

The gap’s holding steady as the🃏y slowly make their way up this climb, at 2:12.

The wꩲeather is dry for now, but there are grey clouds and a looming th💮reat of the heavens opening. That would complicate matters.

That threat of rain is indeed materialiꦇsing, with a few drops start🌳ing to fall.

KOM - BAISO

The break reach the top ofꦅ the climb, with Tarozzi going over first uncontested. 

130KM TO GO

The peloto♊n summit the climb, 2-10 after the leading trio.

Fortunato led the peloton o♋ver the top to pick up the one remaining point available. 

By picking up thosඣe nine♍ points, Tarozzi moves up to third in the KOM rankings:

1 Fortunato 157

2 Ayuso 54

3 Tarozzi 41

4 Double 36

5 Del Toro 30

Rather than descend from the top 🌄of the climb, the riders will instead travel along a plateau for about 40km. That will spꦫare them the worry of descending on damp roads.

The gap b๊etween the leaders and the peloton has dipped to below two minute✨s. Still it's the same three teams setting the pace - Visma, Alpecin and Decathlon.

120KM TO GO

The gap's gone up a bit, to ju🧸st over two minutes.

The riders are on a sh🐻ort descent, and taking things very carefully. There are gaps between the three breakaway riders as they give themselves room.

There are a lot of Decathlon riders in formation at the front of the peloton, suggesting Sam Bennไett fancies his chances. The team talked up the Irishman’s chances going into the race, but he hasn’t really had an impact so far, his best finish being 6th in Lecce. With four wins to his name going into the race, he still has the potential to put himself back in the mix for the win.

Pietrebon went for a long one to make sure he got the maximum points at the intermediate 𒈔sprint, and just about held off the challenge from Epis. Pietrebon’s teammate Tonelli is second in the points classification.

Back in the peloton, Pedersen is allowed to go off the front to claim more points for himself, while nobody else in the p🌠eloton spr𝐆ints for them. 

110KM TO GO

The gap's gone down some more, to 1-30. The peloton are keeping things under control without having to exert t๊hemselves🍰 much.

Here’s the updated points classification:

1 Pedersen 156

2 Tonelli 64

3 Kooij 55

4 Del Toro 54

5 Van Uden 50

Mec༒hanical for Mads Pedersen. There's no panic as he takes his 🧜time getting it fixed.

Pedersen is back in the peloton, ha🍎ving received some help from Lidl teammate Mosca.

100KM TO GO

The road continues to undulate as the riders make their way along this long plateau. The terrain hasn’t had an effect on the gap, which remains at just over t💃wo minutes.

The riders are about to start descending, to the foot of the net an📖d final categorised climb. Conditions haven’t gotten worse, so the roads shouldn’t be too wet.

90KM TO GO

Just 1-37 for the three leaders as they take on the desce෴nt. 🔯;

Tarozzi isn't as 🤪confident as Epis and Pietrob♐on on the descent. He's dropped behind them by a few seconds.

The upcoming climb is quite a꧒ tricky one, averaging 5.5% for 3.9km, including a ramp in the middle of 9%.

80KM TO GO

The breakaway 🎉start the climb of Borsea, with a slightly increased lead of 1:55. 

Steven Kruijswijk leads the pelot💯on on the climb, controlling things for Visma’s sprinter Kooij. It’s unlikely anyone will attack, given how far this climb is from the finish and how flat the terrain is after it, but he’s ma𝓡king sure with a steady pace.

Alpecin are also aiding Visma at the front of the peloton, and 🦩setting a fast tempo. Some riders are off the back of the peloton, while the gap has gone down to 1-20. 

All the ꦐsprinters who are favourites for the stage win are still present in the ꦬpeloton, however. 

Pedersen certainly isn't concern🤪ed by the pace on theﷺ climb. He's just stopped for a nature break.

KOM - BORSEA

Tarozzi leads t🥂he break over the summit, taking the maximum points uncontested. 

Visma and Alpecin lead the peloton ove⛎r theꦦ top, 1-15 later.

70KM TO GO

As the riders descend the climb, the gap is 1-22. Soon they will begin the long, flat run-in to♈ the finish at Viadana, which could get interesting if the wind blows...

This is interesting. Visma-Lease a Bike have taken control at the front, and Wout van Aert is leading. There does seem to be some anticipation of strong wi🌃nds now they are on the flat, exposed section o▨f the stage.

Mads Pedersen is in a group just off the back of the peloton, having dropped back for a comfort break earlier. He’s having to put🍰 some effort in to rejoin.

Pedersen is back in the peloton.

Decathlon have placed a rider at the front, ahead of the Visma train. Nobody is pressing꧃ on just yet.

Her🐲e are the updated KOM rankings, after the day&rsquo꧒;s final climb:

1 Fortunato 157

2 Ayuso 54

3 Tarozzi 50

4 Double 36

4 Del Toro 30

60KM TO GO

Visma and Decathlon🌄's pace has been enough to see the gap to the leaders to come down a little, to just ov🌳er one minute. 

The gap’s really coming down now, to just 45 seconds. There’s more intensity now in the peloton, as theꦓy fight for position just in case of any crosswinဣd action.

Pietrobon again went early at the inter🐽mediate sprint in order t🔯o try and seal the points, just as he did at the last one But this time he’s pipped to the line by Epis.

Ayuso has had to chang🔯e bikes, with some kind of mechani🍬cal problem.

It should be relative🃏ly simple for him to get back into the peloton, but this still reveals something about UAE’s tricky situation at this Giro - with Del Toro in pink, Ayuso isn’t their outright leader. How much support will he ༺get?

So far Ayuso💛 is making his way through the cars, with no teammate having dropped back to help him.

50KM TO GO

There’s been a change at the front of th🧜e peloton with 🧜Jayco taking over with a long line of riders.

The Jayco-led peloton can now see the three leaders♏, who are just 12 seconds ahead.

Behind, Filippo Baroncini has dropped back to pace Ayuso back to the peloton. He's nearl꧂y there now.

Ayuso is back in the peloton.

The pace has knocked off again in the peloton. The breakaway riders looked like they were about to be caught w🎃hen Jayco moved to the front, but have grown their lead out again to over 20 seconds.

While the wind has🔯n’t really mateꦆrialised, there’s still the threat of more rain, with dark clouds looming over the peloton.

40KM TO GO

20 seconds is the gap, as the peloton holds back. That'll change soon regardless o🍌f the wind, as the sprinters teams start preparing💟 their trains.

The catch is about 🌟to be made, with t♔he breakaway trio only a few seconds ahead.

Tarozzi and Epis are caught, but Pietrobon has pressed on to survive a few more moments. Thಌat effort should earn him the comb🍎ativity award.

The break has ܫbeen caught just in time for the bonus seconds at the Red Bull kilometre to come into play. The GC riders are ܫalready moving to the front in anticipation of it.

1km to go until theꦍ bonus second sprint. 6 seconds are on offer for 1st, 4 for 2nd and 2 for 3rꦅd. 

Ayuso𝕴 and Del Toro are right towards the front, being led out by thei𓃲r teammates.

Ineos' Heyduk has jumped ouꦕt of the peloton, trying to sweep up those seconds.

Pietrobon holds on to take first, Heiduk 2nd, and Del Toro takes the two remaining seconds in the peloton in 🃏3rd.

Heiduk's teammate Bernal was out of position, so presumably Ineos thought it best if he swallowed up some points to prevent their rivals gettin༒g them.

Tiberi tried to take on Del Toro in the sprint, but couldn't go past him. That means Del Toro increases his lead on GC to 33 seconds on Ayuso in 2nd and 1-0♒9 to Tiberi in 3rd.

30KM TO GO

Heiduk has been brought back by the peloton, but Pietrobon is still out there, with an 8 se𝔉cond lead.&n꧃bsp;

Pietrobon is caught, just as he crosses the finish line for the🎉 first time. He and the peloton hear the bell, signalling the start of the circuit back to the finish.

Chapeau to the three rider💙s in the day’s break, who have each had a long day in the saddle🐠. 

There are lots of trains now vying🍸 for space at the front of the peloton, including GC teams like Ineos, EF and Bahrain-Victorious.

Lid♈l and Cofidis are also now getting involved. They haven’t put men at the front all day, but are now seeking out the stage win for their respective sprinters Pedersen and Fretin.

20KM TO GO

Alpecin and Q36.5 are jostling with Lidl for supremacy at the🥃 front.𒁏 The sprinters teams are taking over from the GC teams.

The road is wide, allowing for about 9 different sprint trains at the front. Lots of teams aꩲre wanting to get involved.

15KM TO GO

Soudal-QuickStep lead the peloꦡton as they sw🔯ing into a corner and the road narrows. 

Picnic-PostNL have lots of riders near t𝔉he front, trying to set Van Uden up fo💦r what would be a second stage win.

The road is still quite wide allowing for lots of teams t🔜o ride at the front, but Visma are t🦋he best-represented with four or five men.

EF and Soudal are challenging Visma. 

10KM TO GO

Those same three teams all have the edge at 🅺the fro꧅nt for now.

The pace is really high as we approach the finish, the peloton starting to string𝄹 out.

An EF rider leads the♋ peloton through♔ a narrowing of the road.

A big move here from Alpecin, who have formed a 6-man train for Groves on the 🔯right-ha🔯nd side of the road.

They haven't t🃏aken over at the front though, with EF, Visma and Lidl all ahead of them.

5KM TO GO

Lidl take over, with Pedersen 3rd in line.

Without wanting to tempt fate, there hasn't 𒉰been a crash al💎l day.

A🐼 cܫouple of Movistar riders are vying for control with Lidl, working for Aular.

We're through the 3km to go mark, much to the GC riders' relief. Now it's alꦬl abou🀅t the sprinters.

Lidl still lead with 2 riders෴ leading out Pedersen.

Movistar take over under the 2km to go banner.

Now Visma co🔯me through. Van Aerไt is poised to do a lead out...

There's been a crash, near the back of the peloton🐼.

1KM TO GO

Visma lead the peloton into the final km.

Van Aert leads, wit🍸h Kooij on his wheel. He's started his lead out very earlyܫ.

Van Aert leads round the final corner.

Van Uden sprinrs early

KOOIJ WINS

Kooij comes past Van Uden𒐪 just in time to take the win!

Kooij had the prime position round the last corner on Van Aert's whe😼el, but looked in danger when Van Uden sprinted early and held the lead.

But Kooij latched on to Van Uden's wheel, then timed his effort per🧔fꦛectly to come past him at the line.

Van Uden was 2nd, Turner 3rd, and🎀 Pedersen in the purple jersey in 4th.

That was a brilliant lead out by Van Aert. Despite starting it early, he still had the lead going round the final corner, positioning Kooij well enough so he could wait in the slip🧸stream until Van Uden passed him, saving energy to pip him at the line.

It's a first stage win of this Giro for Kooij, living up to his billing as the fastest sprinter at race. It's also his fir𒊎st victory of any kind since crashing out at Gent-Wevelgem.

He might not have won the stage, but that was another seriously impressive sprint from Casp𒀰er van Uden, who ma🍃naged to hold on for second place despite starting his sprint very early. Following his victory in Lecce, the 23-year-old is announcing himself as one of the quickest in the peloton.

Van Aert෴ and K🐎ooij, who today delivered on their pre-race hype as a lead-out / sprinter combo.

The only sprinter missing in the finale from the teams who did the work during the stage was Decathlon’s Sam Bennett. The Irishman was c🗹aught a little t🐲oo far behind ahead of the final corner, and couldn’t quite bring himself back into contention, finishing eleventh.

One of the most surprising results was Ben Turner placing third. Having placed eighth in the bunch finish at Lecce, the Brit seems to be rebranding as a spri⭕nter.

Thanks for joinin𝓡g us today! We'll be back again tomorrow with live coverage for what is another predominantly flat stage - only this time with a sting in the tail in the form of an uphill finish.