Bak Wins The Giro D'Italia Stage 12

Last updated : 17 May 2012 By Kev Monks

Lotto's Lars Bak won the Giro D'Italia Stage 12 this afternoon.

An up and down day for the riders who left Seravezza on this 157km stage to Sestri Levante.

Seven riders including Lars Bak, Sandy Casar (FDJ-BigMat), Ivan Santaromita (BMC), Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan), Luca Mazzanti (Farnese Vini), Andrey Amador (Movistar) and Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) got away with 50kms gone and were joined by three more by the time Golas took the first climb of the day.

That was down to nine riders by the time a touch of wheels brought down Lotto's Adam Hansen with 70kms to go. They were 3.33 ahead on the road in Italy's north west coast.

The gap extended out to over four minutes which meant that Sandy Casar was now the leader on the road. 

With the gap now at seven minutes,  Vacansoleil's Martjin Keizer took the intermediate sprint before the riders moved onto the second category Vaico La Mola climb. Michal Golas took that climb ahead of Jan Bakelandts who along with Scarponi lost time when they took a corner too wide.

Sandy Casar led the chase to Golas who was caught before the riders went up the Villa Tassani climb. Casar was over the top first and he sped off on the descent knowing that if he was 3.42 quicker than Rodriquez then he would be in the pink jersey.

Paolo Tiralonga was helping the peloton to bring the time down by attacking the six riders at the front.

The front six were all attacking each other as we passed the 3kms to go mark

1.6kms out, Lars Bak attacked, giving it everythng and he did enough to win in a time of 3.58.54. Casar was second some eleven seconds back and then had to wait for Rodriquez to come in at 3.37

But it was not to be and Rodriquez keeps his pink jersey by 17 seconds and 26 seconds from Casar 

Tomorrow's stage 13 is from Savona to Cervere and is 121kms long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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