In a thrilling Stage 12 of the Vuelta a España, young Slovenian cyclist Jakob Ormzel emerged victorious, marking a significant milestone in his career. The 20-year-old rider, representing Bahrain-Victorious, showcased his talent on one of the most challenging stages of the race, which spanned 166.6 kilometers and featured two demanding category-one climbs.
Ormzel was part of a 30-rider breakaway that took shape early in the stage, which followed two flatter days that favored sprinters. As the race progressed, the intensity heightened, particularly on the final climbs. Ormzel made his decisive move with 12 kilometers remaining on the Calar Alto, a grueling 17-kilometer ascent with an average gradient of 5.6%. His solo effort paid off, as he crossed the finish line nearly two minutes ahead of his closest competitor, Urko Berrade, celebrating his first WorldTour victory.
After his impressive win, Ormzel expressed his disbelief and joy, stating, “I’m not surprised, because I know how much work I put in, and I knew that this day was going to come sooner or later. But for sure I was not expecting it 100% in the first Grand Tour. I still can’t believe what I did, but I felt super good, I’m still feeling OK, I’m not tired. So I’m just enjoying it at the moment.” This victory not only highlights Ormzel's potential but also serves as a reminder of the depth of talent emerging from Slovenia, especially in the wake of Tadej Pogacar's absence due to injury.
While Ormzel celebrated his win, the general classification battle intensified during the stage. Enric Mas, the current race leader, faced challenges from his rivals as Richard Carapaz and Felix Gall attempted to make their mark on the climbs. Carapaz launched an attack on the penultimate ascent, but Mas and fellow contender Primoz Roglic managed to keep pace. After a tactical ride by his Movistar team, Mas countered on a steep section, further solidifying his position in the overall standings.
Mas demonstrated his climbing prowess, finishing seventh on the stage, just under three minutes behind Ormzel. His efforts allowed him to extend his overall lead to 1 minute and 45 seconds over Roglic, who remains a formidable competitor with four previous Vuelta titles to his name. Additionally, Mas increased his advantage over Felix Gall to 2 minutes and 6 seconds, while Carapaz climbed to fourth overall, trailing Mas by 3 minutes and 53 seconds.
In the wake of the stage, Ormzel's performance also had implications for the general classification, as he moved from 10th to 6th overall, now just 30 seconds behind Oscar Onley, who faced difficulties during the stage. Onley, who had crashed earlier, dropped to fifth place, 4 minutes and 29 seconds behind Mas.
In other cycling news, former European champion Tim Merlier claimed victory in Stage 2 of the Tour of Britain, outpacing Olav Kooij in a sprint finish. Meanwhile, British rider Lewis Askey retained the overall lead, while major contender Filippo Ganna faced setbacks due to a puncture that cost him valuable time.
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