Add to My Favourites

Philippe Gilbert takes his sixth stage victory at La Vuelta

Belgian Philippe Gilbert soloed to Stage 12 Victory as Slovenia's Primoz Roglic retained the leader's red jersey

Former world champion Gilbert forged clear of a 15-man breakaway on the steep final third category climb to claim his sixth career Vuelta stage in the streets of Bilbao.

The 37-year-old winner of this season's Paris-Roubaix, who missed out on selection by his team for the Tour de France, came in clear of Spanish duo Alex Aranburu and Fernando Barcelo. They were the only ones able to give chase to Gilbert, reducing the 19-second gap he'd established over the closing eight kilometres to three seconds.

"The atmosphere on the last climb was like at the classics, with all the flags. It was great, and boosted my motivation" said the stage winner.

"I've often ridden in the Basque country but I've never won here. It's a first and I'm thrilled as it's like Flanders here, they love their cycling," added Gilbert after his 10th Grand Tour stage success.

The Belgian, who is quitting Deuceninck-Quick Step for Lotto-Soudal this winter, appears to be coming to the boil at the right time for this month's world championships in Yorkshire.

Roglic meanwhile remains one minute 52 seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde in the general classification ahead of Friday's 166.4-kilometre 13th stage with seven ascents including a fearsome final 'hors categorie' climb up Los Machucos.

"I'm not afraid of any stage especially as I've got a very strong team behind me," said Roglic, who finished with the other main contenders three minutes behind Gilbert.

He added: "It's an honour to wear the red jersey and I'll be the happiest of men if I've still got it in Madrid (on September 15)."

Placed third in the GC, 2mins 11sec adrift, is specialist climber Miguel Angel Lopez who said of Friday's stage: "Let's hope it's a great day".

"It's not all about Los Machucos," he noted, "there are lots of climbs before then. I'm hoping to have enough strength in the legs to do something good."

VIDEO: 2019 La Vuelta Stage 12 Highlights

2019 La Vuelta Stage 12 Top 10

1    Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep    3:48:18
2    Alexander Aranburu Deba (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA    0:00:03
3    Fernando Barcelo Aragon (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias    0:00:03
4    José Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team    0:00:22
5    Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Sunweb    0:00:26
6    Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal    0:00:29
7    Cyril Barthe (Fra) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias    0:00:29
8    Manuele Boaro (Ita) Astana Pro Team    0:00:29
9    Tim Declercq (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep    0:00:29
10    Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates    0:00:31

2019 La Vuelta General classification after stage 12

1    Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma    44:52:08
2    Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team    0:01:52
3    Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team    0:02:11
4    Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team    0:03:00
5    Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates    0:03:05
6    Carl Fredrik Hagen (Nor) Lotto Soudal    0:04:59
7    Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe    0:05:42
8    Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits    0:05:49
9    Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida    0:06:07
10    Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb    0:06:25   

 
Tag: vuelta
 
Dec 20 2024 - NEWS: The 7 Key stages of a Vintage Vuelta ideal for Tadej Pogacar in 2025
Dec 03 2024 - NEWS: 2025 Vuelta a Espana to start in Turin
Oct 22 2024 - NEWS: 2025 Vuelta a España rumoured to be heading back to the Alto de l'Angliru
Sep 01 2024 - NEWS: Gutsy Pablo Castrillo wins tough Vuelta stage atop Cuitu Negru
Aug 30 2024 - NEWS: Woods wins stage as Roglic decimates O'Connor's lead
Aug 28 2024 - NEWS: Irish rider Eddie Dunbar wins Vuelta stage 11
Aug 27 2024 - NEWS: Van Aert claims third stage Victory at La Vuelta
Aug 25 2024 - NEWS: Yates attacks to win stage nine and revive Vuelta hopes
Aug 23 2024 - NEWS: Van Aert wins Vuelta stage seven sweltering suffer fest
Aug 22 2024 - NEWS: Ben O'Connor annihilates GC favorites with 5 min lead on Stage 6
Aug 21 2024 - NEWS: Czech Bittner pips Van Aert in sprint to win Vuelta stage five
Aug 20 2024 - NEWS: Roglic wins first mountain finish to take the red jersey at La Vuelta
Aug 19 2024 - NEWS: Wout van Aert outsprints Groves to remain in the Red Leader's Jersey
Aug 18 2024 - NEWS: Kaden Groves powers to sprint victory on Stage 2 of La Vuelta
Aug 17 2024 - NEWS: American Brandon McNulty pulls on the Red Jersey at the Vuelta Espana
Jun 30 2014 - RESULTS: Vuelta Keystone Gran Fondo
Aug 23 2025 - EVENT: 2025 La Vuelta Espana
Sep 06 2025 - EVENT: Vuelta Chapala