Dutchman Olav Kooij came out on top in a sprint finish to win stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday, overtaking compatriot Casper van Uden before the line, with Mexico's Isaac del Toro keeping a firm grip on the overall lead.
Kooij was led out by his Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Wout van Aert, but Van Uden, who beat Kooij into second place to win stage four, took the lead before Kooij battled to victory.
🔻 The final corner was key, and everybody knew it. A stunning leadout, for an even greater sprint.
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 22, 2025
🔻 L’ultima curva era cruciale, e tutti lo sapevano. Un leadout straordinario, per uno sprint ancora più straordinario .
⏪ The @continentaltire Ultimo Kilometro#GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/rajA4xzCZ4
"It's really nice to see Olav finishing it off after a really good lead out, I have to say," Van Aert said.
"We used our horsepower and he has the kick."
Briton Ben Turner (INEOS Grenadiers) came in third, ahead of one-time race leader Mads Pedersen, who won three of the opening five stages.
Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) earned two seconds on the last intermediate sprint of the stage and has a 33-second lead over teammate Juan Ayuso of Spain with Italian Antonio Tiberi of Bahrain Victorious over one minute behind in third.
The 172 km ride from Modena to Viadana was expected to bring the sprinters back to the fore, and after an early breakaway of three riders was reeled in by the peloton, the final 25 km was a tactical game as teams looked to set their sprinters up.
Van Aert, who won stage nine, opted for an early lead out before the final dangerous corner, with Kooij on his back wheel.
Van Uden went past and Kooij had to wait to find room to attack but had the finish to overtake and take victory.
"Only Wout can do such a long lead out like today's," Kooij said.
"I got an extraordinary support. I have to thank my teammates, also the rest of the team did a fantastic job."
🎙️ "Only Wout can do this. To have his support, and the team's, is extraordinary. There's a lot of good competition, and we have to beat them all" - 🏆 🇳🇱 @KooijOlav (TVL) #GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/4yzZKFbM1S
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 22, 2025
Friday's stage 13 will take the riders 180km from Rovigo to Vicenza.
STAGE 12 RESULTS
1. Olav Kooij (Team Visma - Lease a Bike) – 3:55:40 (B10)
2. Casper van Uden (Team Picnic PostNL) – 3:55:40 (B6)
3. Ben Turner (INEOS Grenadiers) – 3:55:40 (B4)
4. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) – 3:55:40
5. Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 3:55:40
6. Milan Fretin (Cofidis) – 3:55:40
7. Max Kanter (XDS Astana Team) – 3:55:40
8. Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) – 3:55:40
9. Matevž Govekar (Bahrain Victorious) – 3:55:40
10. Matteo Moschetti (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – 3:55:40
11. Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) – 3:55:40
12. Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché - Wanty) – 3:55:40
13. Enrico Zanoncello (VF Group Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) – 3:55:40
14. Luca Mozzato (Arkea-B&B Hotels) – 3:55:40
15. Rick Pluimers (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – 3:55:40
16. Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar Team) – 3:55:40
17. Corbin Strong (Israel - Premier Tech) – 3:55:40
18. Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-Deceuninck) – 3:55:40
19. Wout van Aert (Team Visma - Lease a Bike) – 3:55:40
20. Tord Gudmestad (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) – 3:55:40
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1.Isaac del Toro (Mex/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 38hrs 47mins 1sec
2. Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +33secs
3. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +1min 9.secs
4. Simon Yates (GB/Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 11secs
5. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +1min 26secs
6. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/EF Education-EasyPost) +1min 58secs
7. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) +2mins 11secs
8. Brandon McNulty (US/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +2mins 18secs
9. Adam Yates (GB/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +2mins 35secs
10. Thymen Arensman (Ned/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time