It took Pablo Castrillo four 2024 Vuelta a España breakaways and his wildcard Equipo Kern Pharma squad 535 days, but both will be ecstatic at his first career victory on Thursday’s twelfth stage. Their last win was in a U23 race. The triumph came the day that the team’s former president Manolo Azcona died at the age of 71 from cancer. The GC riders kept their powder dry for Friday’s Cat. 1 summit finish. Michael Woods had a rough day at the office and lost three positions on the GC.
The Course
Heading into the second half of the year’s final Grand Tour, Thursday was brief at 137 km and held a single categorized climb, the long, mild Cat. 1 summit finish on Estacion De Montana De Manzaneda.
We’re going to Manzaneda, where we should see another fascinating episode of the battle for the GC at #LaVuelta24. pic.twitter.com/Bj2HxmUd5l
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) August 29, 2024
Breakaways attempted to form, but the Red Bull riders had their tails up. With 98 km to go, Woods, who had a mechanical earlier in the day, made a surge at the front of the field. Finally, a group with serial fugitives like Marc Soler, Harold Tejeda and Castrillo slipped the surly bonds of the peloton. Woods and another chap tried to bridge but couldn’t, and later he suffered another mechanical. With 77 km to go, the ten fellows had 7:00 over the peloton.
By the foot of the climb to Estacion de Montaña de Manzaneda, 16 km of 4.7 percent, it was clear that the day’s winner was among the fugitives. Perhaps Tejeda could even break into the GC top-20 if the situation proved optimal. Soler fired the first shot. Carlos Verona tried his luck, was caught, and shook the dice again.
When Verona was brought back, Castrillo bolted. Mauro Schmid was his closest pursuer before Soler, Max Poole and Jhonatan Narváez, the first leader of this year’s Giro d’Italia, joined him.
Castrillo’s head was bobbing all over the place as he buried himself for the elusive win. He gutted it out and celebrated with gusto after the line. Poole, third on Wednesday, came runner up.
Friday’s Cat. 1 summit finish on Puerto de Ancares is much steeper than Thursday’s.
2024 Vuelta a España Stage 12
1) Pablo Castrillo (Spain/Equipo Kern Pharma) 3:36:12
2) Max Poole (Great Britain/DSM-Firmenich PostNL) +0:08
3) Marc Soler (Spain/UAE-Emirates) +0:16
128) Michael Woods (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +17:26
2024 Vuelta a…
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