News | Vuelta a Espana • September 5, 2019
Conti finding his feet with top ten in Bilbao
Italian of UAE Team Emirates 10th on the stage, as Pogačar retains 5th on GC
After a couple of months hampered by physical problems, Valerio Conti hinted that he is is back on track by infiltrating the main break of the day on stage 12, holding off the bunch to finish in 10th place.
Stage 12 of La Vuelta España set off from the Circuito de Navarre en route to Bilbao and proved less than straightforward with the breakaway taking more than 100km to form. Conti, along with Marco Marcato eventually slipped away in a group of nineteen riders which also contained eventual stage winner Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck Quick Step).
Despite efforts to reel in the Belgian, Conti (photo Bettini) would have to settle for 10th place on the day.
Valerio Conti : “After the health problems which forced me to quit the Giro and to stop for one month, I have not yet been back to my best.
But I’m determined and well motivated to try to obtain good results. Today I got in the main attack together with Marcato, even if it was not an easy day for attacking. It wasn’t a top result, but I hope this is the start of a good period for me”.
Meanwhile back in the main peloton, Tadej Pogačar had a relatively straightforward day in the wheels and the young Slovenian remains fifth overall at 3’05 behind his compatriot Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma).
Pogačar remains 5th overall, at 3’05 from Primoz Roglic and second in the young riders classification, 55’ down on Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana).
Pogačar speaking after the line: “Today the start was fast, but I felt ok, with good legs. The whole stage was pretty hard, especially the final climb. In the final, I managed to be there and to be ready if someone attacked but it was a good day for the GC contenders to take a breather. Tomorrow will be different: it will be a long day and the race could explode”.
Stage 13 tomorrow takes the riders 166.4km from Bilbao to Los Machucos which should prove to be one of the crucial stages for the general classification.
Stage 12 results
1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck-Quick Step 3h48’18”
2 Alex Aranburu (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 3″
3 Fernando Barcelò (Esp) Euskadi-Murias s.t.
10 Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 31″
General classification after stage 12
1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma 44h52’08”
2 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar 1’52”
3 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana 2’11”
5 Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 3’05”
