MADRID, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Juan Ayuso of UAE Team Emirates XRG claimed victory in the 12th stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Thursday, outsprinting Javier Romo of Movistar Team at the end of the 144.9-kilometer ride between Laredo and Los Corrales de Buelna.

The stage wound through the rolling green hills of Cantabria, featuring two categorized climbs - the Puerto de Alisas (second category) and the first-category ascent to Los Corrales de Buelna, which peaked just over 20 kilometers from the finish.

With Friday's daunting L'Angliru climb looming as a possible decider in the general classification, the peloton allowed a breakaway of 52 riders, none considered a podium threat, to go up the road.

The steep slopes of Los Corrales de Buelna fractured the lead group, with Ayuso receiving crucial support from teammate Marc Soler.

Neither Ayuso nor Romo pushed too hard on the treacherous final descent, complicated by damp patches and fallen leaves. In the final kilometers, Romo shouldered most of the work, leaving Ayuso with enough strength to surge past in the closing meters for his second stage win of this year's race.

"I want to congratulate Romo, but I had to play my cards and put him under pressure at the end. I don't really like to play like that, but my team car told me to do it and you have to be intelligent," Ayuso said after the stage. ■