Giro d’Italia 2025 LIVE: Stage 12 result and updates – UK Times

Huge sprint by Casper van Uden, who went from so far back, essentially led out his compatriot Kooij – bit of an error there! – and still held on for second.

Ben Turner was tucked in behind him until essentially the very last moment, delivered expertly by Josh Tarling into that finale.

Kaden Groves was up there too but faded at the end.

Casper van Uden doesn’t seem too disappointed by his second place. He’s certainly raising his profile this race.

He’s asked why he launched so early. “I just had the speed, I thought it was better to keep the speed and make it a long one than break again and do a second sprint.”

Too early? “Maybe, but Kooij is also really fast and a really good bike rider so it’s not a shame to be beaten by him.”

Happy with the result? “I think it’s good. We did a good job, I stayed calm and just launched, so I think we can be happy, that was the goal.”

Let’s hear from today’s stage winner, a very relieved Olav Kooij.

“It is [a relief], I was waiting for this one,” he says. “We grew into the race, also as a team, with Simon being in a good position, Wout taking a stage win. The other sprints didn’t go right, really happy that today we could do it.”

On his leadout, he says, “Only he [Wout] can do it, so to have him as support here is extraordinary. I really need to thank him and also the rest of the team, they did a fantastic job. You don’t want to be too far [back] in that last corner, that’s maybe why we had to go a bit earlier than we wanted but I could jump on the wheel of Casper and pass him.”

On the unexpected package of van Uden, he says, “There’s a lot of good competition, you need to beat them all and that’s what we did today. We try to race our best every day and aim for wins and good GC with Simon. We’re definitely not done yet.”

Classy interview with Wout van Aert in the melee of the finish line.

“It’s really nice to see Olav finishing it off after a really good leadout, I have to say,” he says. “We used our horsepower and he has the kick, so, great. We took our responsibility, we went for it. If Edo [Edoardo Affini] takes the front you always know it’s going to be lined out and me and Olav had to finish it.”

1) Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) in 3:55:40

2) Casper van Uden (Picnic PostNL)

3) Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers)

4) Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)

5) Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

6) Milan Fretin (Cofidis)

7) Max Kanter (XDS Astana)

8) Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)

9) Matevz Govekar (Bahrain-Victorious)

10) Matteo Moschetti (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), all at same time

Van Uden came round the Visma pair but Kooij jumped straight into his slipstream from Van Aert’s leadout and rode perfectly, just slipping out in the final 10-15 metres or so.

Van Uden was second, another great sprint from him, and a reversal of the top two on stage four. Ben Turner was third from Ineos – a solid result. Pedersen fourth.

It’s a second Giro stage win in Kooij’s young career. He gets a big hug from Van Aert at the finish.

After a slightly disappointing opening week, this is turning into a brilliant Giro for Visma. Van Aert getting his maiden Giro stage win, delivering a fabulous leadout, Kooij sealing a sprint win, and Simon Yates climbing magnificently and up there on GC.

An utterly breathless sprint, huge leadout by Van Aert. Van Uden opened up his sprint early and ultimately four or five riders crossed almost in sync, Pedersen came on strong in the closing stages – but it’s Kooij who takes it!

Van Aert is on the front under the flamme rouge but needs an incredible leadout to deliver Kooij. Pedersen is fifth or so, van Uden up there.

Under the flamme rouge and Visma now lead – Pedersen has been pushed down. Alpecin and Decathlon are there – but there’s been a crash behind, a Polti VisitMalta rider is down and that’s caused some other riders to swerve.