LOGRONO, Spain (AP) β John Degenkolb of Germany timed his sprint perfectly to win the 12th stage of the Spanish Vuelta as Alberto Contador retained the overall lead on Thursday.
Degenkolb just beat Tom Boonen and Jacopo Guarnieri to the line after a largely flat 166-kilometer (103-mile) race in and around Logrono.
Matthias Krizek broke free of the peloton in the first lap and established a four-minute lead. Near the front of the following pack, Degenkolb was positioning himself to stay in touch. With 12 kilometers to go, the peloton caught up with and overtook Krizek.
Contador leads Alejandro Valverde by 24 seconds with Rigoberto Uran third, 1 minute, 12 seconds behind. Chris Froome was in touch in fourth, 1:24 behind.
