UAE Team Emirates rider Juan Sebastian Molano sprints to Stage 12 win at Vuelta a Espana

UAE Team Emirates rider Juan Sebastian Molano sprinted to victory on Stage 12 of the Vuelta a Espana on Thursday.

The Colombian took advantage of Kaden Groves' misfortune with the green jersey holder having to settle for second place after getting boxed in and dropping his chain in the final 200 metres.

The Australian, who won back-to-back stages in the opening week, indicated he had suffered a mechanical problem.

"In the end we got bumped by UAE who came with momentum and my chain actually dropped. I managed to get it on and had a really strong sprint but unfortunately we were too far back and it was too late," Groves, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider told Eurosport.

"I'm super disappointed because it could have been win number three."

Molano appeared to catch the Alpecin-Deceuninck riders by surprise and out of position as he surged to the front off the wheel of teammate Rui Oliveira.

He would have expected Groves to come back strongly but had enough of a gap to keep the Australian at bay with Boy Van Poppel, of Intermarche-Circus-Wanty, coming third.