Post-finish line crash mars Vuelta Stage 12 as Alexandre Geniez wins and Jesus Herrada takes race lead

Jesus Herrada of Cofidis is the new leader of the Vuelta after another day when the break prevailed, with AG2R-La Mondiale rider Alexandre Geniez taking the stage win – but the big talking point of the day is likely to be a post-finish line crash caused by someone accredited to the race.

Geniez had won a five-man sprint to the line to win Stage 12 of the race in Manon this afternoon, and as usual for a major race, photographers were grouped to the left of the riders to capture the moment they crossed the line.

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But as they did so, a man apparently accredited to the race ran past the photographers with his back to the riders. Geniez couldn’t help but collide with him, and in doing so, inadvertently brought down Dylan van Baarle, who had finished second, causing the Team Sky rider to crash heavily.

Fourth-placed Dylan Teuns of BMC Racing was also brought down in the incident, which will inevitably raise once again the issue of the safety of riders at races.

Herrada, who had begun the day 5 minutes 45 seconds behind race leader Adam Yates of Mitchelton-Scott, rolled over the line 2 minutes 30 seconds behind the winner.

But with the group containing Yates and other challengers for the overall including Movistar’s Alejandro Valverde coming in a further 9 minutes back, it’s the Cofidis rider who will be in the red jersey tomorrow.

More to follow.