Mauri Vansevenant took fifth place on Stage 12 of La Vuelta.
The first big climbing stage after the rest day covered 166 kilometers between Alto de Velefique and Calar Alto. It was La Vuelta’s first visit to Calar Alto in almost a decade, and it came as no surprise that many riders were determined to fight for the stage win on the climb, which took the peloton to more than 2100 meters above sea level.
Mauri was part of the day’s main breakaway, a 30-rider move that would stay clear all the way to the finish. While several riders launched attacks from the group, Vansevenant rode at a steady tempo and paced his effort well on the final climb to secure a top-five finish on the stage won by Jakob Omrzel.
It was about choosing my own pace and holding on for as long as possible.
Mauri Vansevenant
After the stage, Mauri explaind “At first I had to collect myself for a moment. But I was able to get into my rhythm, and towards the end of the climb, I felt really good. It was about choosing my own pace and holding on for as long as possible.”
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