Cyclist Olav Kooij secures the win in stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia, stating that there's still more to accomplish.
Let's break down the thrilling stage 12 of the 2025 Giro d'Italia:
Olav Kooij snatched a hard-fought victory in the sprint finish, thanks to a phenomenon of a lead-out by Wout van Aert in the final kilometer. After Van Aert peeled off, Kooij slid into Casper van Uden's slipstream, powering past him in the dying moments, keeping Ben Turner and Mads Pedersen at bay. Van Uden, the stage 4 winner in Lecce, managed to hold onto second place, while Turner took third.
Kooij expressed immense relief after clinching his first win since Tirreno-Adriatico in March. He praised Van Aert for his flawless turn and thanked his team for their efforts throughout the race. He added that Visma-Lease a Bike isn't done yet and hinted at more to come at the 2025 Giro.
Meanwhile, Isaac del Toro safely navigated the main field, extending his lead in the general classification. He snatched two bonus seconds at an intermediate sprint, widening the gap between him and his teammate, Juan Ayuso, in second place.
How it all went down:
The 172-kilometer dash to Viadana took the peloton through the Lombardy region, offering another chance for the sprinters. However, the course had more than 1,600 meters of elevation gain in the first half of the route, making it no walk in the park for the fast men.
An early breakaway consisting of Giosuè Epis (Arkéa - B&B Hotels), Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè), and Andrea Pietrobon (Polti VisitMalta) tried to spoil the party for the sprinters. Pietrobon was the last rider standing from the break but was caught 26 kilometers from the finishing line.
Del Toro seized the opportunity to grab two bonus seconds at the final intermediate sprint point, consolidating his lead in the general classification. After the breakaway was reeled in, various teams battled it out for the stage win, with Visma-Lease a Bike, Lidl-Trek, Cofidis, and Alpecin-Deceuninck among those fighting for supremacy.
Visma-Lease a Bike began to push six kilometers from the finish, ensuring Olav Kooij stayed well-positioned for the sprint. Alpecin prepped Kaden Groves for an attack, but Visma-Lease a Bike held their ground, setting Kooij up for a world-class lead-out in the final kilometer, delivering him the stage win.
Final Results:
- Olav Kooij (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike
- Casper van Uden (Ned) Picnic-PostNL
- Ben Turner (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers
- Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek
- Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck
- Milan Fretin (Bel) Cofidis
- Max Kanter (Ger) XDS Astana
- Paul Magnier (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step
- Matevz Govekar (Slo) Bahrain Victorious
- Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Q36.5 Pro Cycling
General Classification after Stage 12:
- Isaac Del Toro (Mex) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, in 42:43:28
- Juan Ayuso (Spa) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +33s
- Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, +1:09
- Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost, at s.t
- Simon Yates (GBr) Visma-Lease a Bike, +1:11
- Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +1:26
- Derek Gee (Can) Israel-Premier Tech, +1:56
- Giulio Ciccone, (Ita) Lidl-Trek, +2:11
- Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +2:18
- Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, +2:26
[3]: https://www.eurosport.com/ Other articles related to the 2025 Giro d'Italia, including interviews, features, and race analysis, can be found in the Get The Leadout newsletter. Subscribe now to stay up-to-date with the latest cycling content!
The thrilling stage 12 of the 2025 Giro d'Italia provided an opportunity for the sprinters, but the course was challenging with over 1,600 meters of elevation gain in the first half of the route. Despite this, the stage was won by Olav Kooij (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike, thanks to a superb lead-out by Wout van Aert in the final kilometer, showcasing the importance of sports strategy and teamwork in cycling.
