La Vuelta 2012 Stage 18: Flat Stage Field Sprint
The 204.5km Stage 18 of La Vuelta a Espana played out as expected: A break was brought back with 17km to go, and the result was a field sprint. The only potential chaos was in the final kilometers, when the pace was high and fears of a crosswind left the peloton looking around at each other.
However, there was no crosswind, and even the riders shelled off the back of the field were able to keep time gaps to a minumum. At the end of the stage, Daniele Bennati (Radioshack-Nissan) bested Ben Swift (Team Sky ProCycling) in a bike throw by mere inches. Allan Davis (Orica-GreenEDGE) was 3rd.
Niki Terpstra was the top finisher for Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team, in 18th place.
OPQS looks next to a 178.4km Stage on Friday.
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