Van Poppel wins as Roche gains a place

Nicolas Roche moved up one place to 21st overall at the Vuelta A Espana after yesterday’s 12th stage of the race to Lleida, the Team Sky man not getting amongst the sprint that decided the day.

It was Trek Factory Racing rider Danny Van Poppel who was first across the line for what was his first Grand Tour stage victory after a chaotic final few kilometres.

The 22-year-old Dutchman, son of former pro and nine-time Vuelta stage winner Jean-Paul, got the better of Daryl Impey (Orica GreenEDGE) and Tosh Van der Sande (Tosh Van der Sande) to take the win.