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Pontevedra - Slovak rider Peter Sagan of Liquigas won the 12th stage of the Tour of Spain on Thursday, a 167.3km ride from Ponteareas to here, in a sprint finish.
The 21-year-old edged out German rider John Degenkolb of HTC-Highroad and Italy's Daniele Bennati of Leopard at the finish line to secure his second stage win of the race in 4hrs, 3min and 1sec.
He had already one the sixth stage, a 193.4km ride from Ubeda to Cordoba.
"I thank my team-mates because they have done a tremendous job, they took me perfectly to the end," Sagan said.
"From now on begins Vicenzo Nibali's moment on the Tour, and for that the entire team is totally prepared."
Italy's Nibali, the winner of the Tour of Spain last year, is fourth in the overall standings, ten seconds behind Britain's Bradley Wiggins, riding for Team Sky.
Wiggins retained the overall leader's red jersey, seven seconds ahead of his team-mate Christopher Froome and nine seconds ahead of Sweden's Fredrik Kessiakof of Astana.
The Tour continues on Friday with a 158.2km run from Sarria to Ponferrada which includes three mountain passes.
Results on Thursday from the 12th stage of the Spanish Vuelta, a 167.3km ride from Ponteareas to Pontevedra:
1. Peter Sagan (SVK/LIQ) 4h03min 01sec
2. John Degenkolb (GER/HTC) at 0:00.
3. Daniele Bennati (ITA/LEO) 0:00.
4. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM) 0:00.
5. Juan Jose Haedo (ARG/SAX) 0:00.
6. Tom Boonen (BEL/QST) 0:00.
7. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 0:00.
8. Paul Martens (GER/RAB) 0:00.
9. Nikolas Maes (BEL/QST) 0:00.
10. Lloyd Mondory (FRA/ALM) 0:00.
11. Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE/AST) 0:00.
12. Vicente Reynes (ESP/OLO) 0:00.
13. Bauke Mollema (NED/RAB) 0:00.
14. Sebastian Lang (GER/OLO) 0:00.
15. Damiano Caruso (ITA/LIQ) 0:00.
16. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/LIQ) 0:04.
17. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/QST) 0:04.
18. Pim Ligthart (NED/VAC) 0:05.
19. Nico Sijmens (BEL/COF) 0:05.
20. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/LEO) 0:05.
Overall standings after the 12th stage:
1. Bradley Wiggins, Britain, Sky, 46 hours, 53 minutes, 47 seconds.
2. Christopher Froome, Britain, Sky, 7 seconds behind.
3. Fredrik Kessiakoff, Sweden, Astana, :09
4. Vicenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas-Cannondale, :10.
5. Jakob Fuglsang, Denmark, Leopard Trek, :19.
6. Bauke Mollema, Netherlands, Rabobank, :36.
7. Maxime Monfort, Belgium, Leopard Trek, 1:06.
8. Juan Jose Cobo, Spain, Geox, 1:27.
9. Haimar Zubeldia, Spain, RadioShack, 1:53.
10. Janez Brajkovic, Slovenia, RadioShack, 2:00
