Lars Bak wins the stage, Giro d'Italia 2012, stage 12

Giro d'Italia 2012 stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson>>

Lars Bak (Lotto Belisol) has won stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia after the break succeeded on a short but challenging day in the Cinque Terre region of Italy. Bak caught his break-mates napping with 1.5km and soloed through the final hairpins to win alone.

Overnight leader Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) narrowly kept hold of his pink jersey after Sandy Casar (FDJ-BigMat), four minutes down on the GC at the start of the day, crossed the line in second having been part of the break all day. 

Although the Frenchman picked up 12 bonus seconds, the peloton steamed in three and a half minutes later to cruelly deny him a stint in the maglia rosa.

It took around 50km for the day's break to form, but for those involved it was worth the wait. Lars Bak, Sandy Casar, Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan), Ivan Santaromita (BMC Racing), Andrei Amador (Movistar), Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM), Jackson Rodriguez (Androni-Giacottoli) and Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) established a lead that at one point reached seven minutes.

The inclusion of four categorised climbs made the stage no less difficult than yesterday's epic and the peloton seemed content to let the break go away. Casar was the best placed on the overall classification and was the virtual maglia rosa by over three minutes before the bunch woke up and became aware of his threat.

It soon became a question of how much time the escapees could hold onto along the sinuous roads of Italy's northwestern coast. As Liquigas-Cannondale dragged the peloton closer, the break began a dangerous game of cat and mouse on the approach to the finish.

Seizing a moment of inattention, Lars Bak made the jump in the final mile and used his power to ride flat out to the finish: a deserved win for one of the peloton's most hard-working domestiques.

Casar narrowly pipped Amador for second place but, with the peloton at full speed, it wasn't quite enough. He finished the day third on the GC ahead of break companion Ivan Santaromita in fifth, although with the high mountains looming it will likely be a short stay for the pair as the favourites start to make their moves.

Tomorrow's stage 13 is the shortest stage of this year's race and could be one for the sprinters if they can negotiate the early climb. Follow all the action on Cycling Weekly's live coverage from tomorrow afternoon.

Results

Giro d'Italia stage 12, Seravezza - Sestri Levante, 155km

1. Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto-Belisol 3h 58'55"

2. Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-BigMat at 11"

3. Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar s.t.

4. Jan Bakelants (Bel) Radioshack-Nissan s.t.

5. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing s.t.

6. Jacskon Rodriguez (Ven) Androni-Giocattoli s.t.

7. Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi s.t.

8. Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 43"

9. Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quickstep at 48"

10. Juan Antonio Flecha (Esp) Sky at 3'34"

Overall classification after stage 12

1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha 51h 19'08"

2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 17"

3. Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-BigMat at 26"

4. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana at 32"

5. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing at 49"

6. Roman Kreuziger (Svk) Astana at 52"

7. Benat Intxausti (Esp) Movistar s.t.

8. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 57"

Lars Bak celebrates his stage win

Another day, another pair of glasses. Joaquin Rodriguez in the lead

Giro d'Italia 2012: Latest news

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Pinotti alters Giro plans after losing time in mountains

Pozzato apologises for role in causing crash

Hesjedal has tough day as Giro leader

Schleck building form in Giro for final week in Alps

English speakers on top

Giro favourites to make move in first mountain finish

Malori will relish time in Giro lead

Sky's Giro team time trial disappointment

Phinney's terrible day sees Giro lead slip away

Teams ready for Giro's team time trial

Phinney given all-clear after Giro crash

Ferrari should be ashamed of Giro sprint, says Cavendish

Giro remembers Wouter Weylandt

Cavendish and Thomas a winning combo, says Brailsford

Geraint Thomas narrowly misses out on Giro lead

Phinney realises Giro dream

Giro d'Italia 2012: Live coverage

Giro d'Italia 2012 live text coverage schedule

Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage reports

Stage 11: Ferrari wins Giro stage on ride to redemption

Stage 10: Rodriguez wins thrilling finale to take leadStage nine: Ventoso wins in Frosinone as Goss and Cavendish fall

Stage eight: Pozzovivo takes another Giro win

Stage seven: Hesjedal moves into Giro lead

Stage six: Rubiano solos to epic Giro stage win

Stage five: Cavendish bounces back for another stage win

Stage four: Garmin-Barracuda win TTT to take lead

Stage three: Goss wins in Horsens as Cavendish and Phinney crash

Stage two: Cavendish wins in Herning

Stage one: Phinney wins time trial

Giro d'Italia 2012: Photo galleries

Stage 11 photo gallery

Stage 10 photo gallery

Stage nine photo gallery

Stage eight photo gallery

Stage seven photo gallery

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one photo gallery

Giro d'Italia 2012: Teams and riders

Giro d'Italia 2012 start list

Giro d'Italia 2012: TV guide

Giro d'Italia 2012: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2012: The Big Preview

Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia section

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Richard Abraham is an award-winning writer, based in New Zealand. He has reported from major sporting events including the Tour de France and Olympic Games, and is also a part-time travel guide who has delivered luxury cycle tours and events across Europe. In 2019 he was awarded Writer of the Year at the PPA Awards.