2012 Vuelta a España: Difference between revisions

| first_team = {{ctUCI team code|SAX|2012b}}

| second_team = {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| third_team = {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

| points_team = {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| mountains_team = {{ctUCI team code|GEC|2012b}}

| combination_team = {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| combination_color = white

| team team_nat = {{ct|MOV|2012}}ESP

The '''2012 Vuelta a España''' started on 18 August 2012 and was the 67th edition of the race. The race began in [[Pamplona]] with a team time trial and ended on 9 September, as traditional, in [[Madrid]]. The 2012 edition saw the return of the [[Bola del Mundo]] mountain top finish. It was the venue of an exciting battle between winner [[Vincenzo Nibali]] and runner-up [[Ezequiel Mosquera]] in the [[2010 Vuelta a España|2010 edition]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2012-vuelta-a-espana-to-start-in-pamplona |title=2012 Vuelta a España to start in Pamplona |publisher=Cyclingnews.com |date=2011-09-08 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vuelta-a-espana-2012-with-team-time-trial-and-bola-del-mundo |title=2012 Vuelta a España 2012 with team time trial and Bola del Mundo |publisher=Cyclingnews.com |date=2011-11-05 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-07-23}}</ref> It was the first time since [[1994 Vuelta a España|1994]] that the race visited the region of [[Navarre]]. The previous time that Pamplona was visited by a Grand Tour in 1996, when the city hosted the finish of a memorable stage of the [[1996 Tour de France]]. On that occasion, the race paid homage to [[Miguel Indurain]] by passing through his home village of Villava en route.

The race was won for the second time by [[Alberto Contador]] of {{ctUCI team code|SAX|2012b}}, taking his first overall victory since returning from a doping suspension.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/9531812/Alberto-Contador-marks-his-return-from-drugs-ban-with-Tour-of-Spain-victory.html|title=Alberto Contador marks his return from drugs ban with Tour of Spain victory|date=9 September 2012|accessdateaccess-date=9 September 2012|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|publisher=Telegraph Media Group}}</ref> Contador, who won the seventeenth stage of the race after a solo attack, won the general classification by 1' 16" over runner-up [[Alejandro Valverde]] of the {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}} team. Two-time stage winner Valverde also won two sub-classifications on the final day; by taking a sixth-place finish on the stage into Madrid, he overhauled the points tally of [[Joaquim Rodríguez]] ({{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}) in that classification, and their resultant switch of positions, allowed Valverde to take the combination classification – where the lowest cumulative score across the general, points and mountains classifications wins – as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12830/Vuelta-a-Espana-John-Degenkolb-gets-number-five-on-final-stage-as-Contador-wins.aspx|title=John Degenkolb gets number five on final stage as Contador wins|first=Ben|last=Atkins|date=9 September 2012|accessdateaccess-date=9 September 2012|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC}}</ref>

Completing an all-Spanish podium,<ref>{{cite news|title=Alberto Contador wins second Vuelta a Espana title|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/19537111|work=[[BBC Sport]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=9 September 2012|accessdateaccess-date=9 September 2012}}</ref> Rodríguez finished the race third overall, 21 seconds behind Valverde and 1' 37" behind Contador, having led the race for 13 days between the fourth and sixteenth stages. Rodríguez also achieved three stage victories, a tally second only to {{ctUCI team code|ARG|2012b}} sprinter [[John Degenkolb]] who won five stages, the most by a German at the Vuelta.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/high-five-for-degenkolb-in-madrid|title=High five for Degenkolb in Madrid|first=Alasdair|last=Fotheringham|authorlinkauthor-link=Alasdair Fotheringham|date=9 September 2012|accessdateaccess-date=9 September 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited}}</ref> {{ctUCI team code|OGE|2012b}}'s [[Simon Clarke (cyclist)|Simon Clarke]] became the second Australian to win the mountains classification in a Grand Tour, while the {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012|nolink=yes}} comfortably won the teams classification.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results |title=Degenkolb takes fifth Vuelta stage win in Madrid |first=Daniel |last=Benson |date=9 September 2012 |accessdateaccess-date=9 September 2012 |work=Cycling News |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102215145/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results |archivedatearchive-date=2 January 2013 }}</ref>

The 18 [[UCI ProTour]] teams were automatically entitled to start the race and were joined by four teams that received a wildcard in April 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vuelta-a-espana-announces-its-22-teams-for-2012|title=Vuelta a España announces its 22 teams for 2012|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=23 April 2012|accessdateaccess-date=19 August 2012}}</ref>

* {{ctUCI team code|ALM|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|AST|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|BMC|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|EUS|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|FDJ|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|GRM|2012b}}

* {{ctUCI team code|GEC|2012b}}

* {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|LAM|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|LIQ|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|LTB|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|OPQ|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|RAB|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|RNT|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|SAX|2012b}}

* {{ctUCI team code|SKY|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|VAC|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|ACGCOF|2012}}

* {{ctUCI team code|CJRARG|20122012b}}

The winner of the 2008 edition of the race, [[Alberto Contador]], made his first Grand Tour appearance since his ban after testing positive for a banned substance at the 2010 Tour de France, and was considered by many the top favourite for overall victory. Another favourite was [[Chris Froome]], who had at the time finished second in the 2011 Vuelta and 2012 Tour de France, and he started the 2012 Vuelta as team leader of {{ctUCI team code|SKY|2012}}, having previously worked for [[Bradley Wiggins]]. The then winner of the 2011 edition, [[Juan José Cobo]], was looking to replicate his previous year's form after a disappointing 2012 season, and he was co-leader of the {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}} alongside [[Alejandro Valverde]].

Other contenders for the podium included [[Joaquim Rodríguez]] of {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}, who finished second in the [[2012 Giro d'Italia]], [[Igor Antón]] of {{ctUCI team code|EUS|2012}}, [[Jurgen Van den Broeck]] of {{ctUCI team code|LTB|2012}}, [[Damiano Cunego]] of {{ctUCI team code|LAM|2012}} and [[Robert Gesink]] of {{ctUCI team code|RAB|2012}}.

Riders who could have made the top ten included Froome's Colombian teammates at {{ctUCI team code|SKY|2012|nolink=yes}}, [[Rigoberto Urán]] and [[Sergio Henao]], {{ctUCI team code|RAB|2012|nolink=yes}}'s [[Bauke Mollema]], {{ctUCI team code|RNT|2012}}'s [[Maxime Monfort]], {{ctUCI team code|VCD|2012}}'s [[Thomas De Gendt]] and {{ctUCI team code|ALM|2012}}'s [[Nicolas Roche]].

|{{ctflagicon|ESP}} {{UCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| [[Lleida]] – [[Canòlic|Coll de la Gallina]]

| [[Gijón]] – [[Lena, Asturias|Cuitu NegroNegru]]

There were four main classifications contested in the 2012 Vuelta a España, with the most important being the [[General classification in the Vuelta a España|general classification]]. The general classification was calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage. The cyclist with the least accumulated time was the race leader, identified by the red jersey; the winner of this classification was considered the winner of the Vuelta. In 2012, there were time bonuses given on mass-start stages; twelve seconds were awarded to the stage winner, with eight for second and four for third.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/08/news/2012-vuelta-a-espana-serves-up-a-mountainous-unpredictable-course_234601|title=2012 Vuelta a España serves up a mountainous, unpredictable course|first=Andrew|last=Hood|work=VeloNews|publisher=[[Competitor Group, Inc.]]|date=16 August 2012|accessdateaccess-date=30 December 2013|archive-date=20 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820134143/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/08/news/2012-vuelta-a-espana-serves-up-a-mountainous-unpredictable-course_234601|url-status=dead}}</ref>

| {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

|style="background:lightgrey;" rowspan=3| {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

|style="background:lightgrey;" rowspan=2| {{ctUCI team code|RAB|2012}}

|style="background:lightgrey;" rowspan=2| {{ctUCI team code|SKY|2012}}

|style="background:lightgrey;" rowspan=7| {{ctUCI team code|RAB|2012}}

|style="background:lightgrey;" rowspan=7| {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

!style="background:grey;"| {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|SAX|2012b}}

| {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|SKY|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|RAB|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|GRS|2012b}}

| {{ctUCI team code|RAB|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|EUS|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|SAX|2012b}}

| {{ctUCI team code|ARG|2012b}}

| {{ctUCI team code|RNT|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|SKY|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|OGE|2012b}}

| {{ctUCI team code|LIQ|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|ALM|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

| {{flagathlete|[[Simon Clarke (cyclist)|Simon Clarke]]|AUS}} [[File:Jersey bluedotsblue polkadot.svg|20px]]

| {{ctUCI team code|OGE|2012b}}

| {{ctUCI team code|CJR|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|VCD|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|SAX|2012b}}

| {{ctUCI team code|OPQ|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|SKY|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|COF|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|SAX|2012b}}

| {{ctUCI team code|SKY|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|ALM|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|LIQ|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|VCD|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|OPQ|2012}}

| {{ctUCI team code|SKY|2012}}

| {{ctflagicon|ESP}} {{UCI team code|MOV|2012}}

| {{ctflagicon|ESP}} {{UCI team code|EUS|2012}}

| {{ctflagicon|FRA}} {{UCI team code|ALM|2012}}

| {{ctflagicon|NED}} {{UCI team code|RAB|2012}}

| {{ctflagicon|GBR}} {{UCI team code|SKY|2012}}

|{{ctUCI team code|KAT|2012}}

| {{ctflagicon|ITA}} {{UCI team code|LAM|2012}}

| {{ctflagicon|DEN}} {{UCI team code|SAX|2012b}}

| {{ctflagicon|LUX}} {{UCI team code|RNT|2012}}

| {{ctflagicon|ESP}} {{UCI team code|CJR|2012}}