BMC's Brit Steve Cummings won the thirteenth stage of the Vuelta a Espana this afternoon.
Stage 13, which was now eight riders down on the original start list, was one for the sprinters with no ranked climbs on the 172.8km stage from Santiago de Compostela to Ferrol.
After 42kms, we had the first break of the day and Linus Gerdemann (RadioShack-Nissan), Thomas de Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM), Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge), Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge), Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky), Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Brit Stephen Cummings (BMC) (pictured below) got clear.
With thirty kilometres to go, their lead was 1.50. The riders past the dockyards of Ferrol for the first time before starting on one final loop of the naval town.
Fifteen kilometres down the road, the escapers still had a minute's lead.
Gerd Steegmans, Daniel Moreno and Kashesckin of Astana, tried to bridge the gap to the escapers.
With six to go, Juan Antonio Flecha of Team Sky attacked before he was closed down by Steve Cummings, who then attacked with four left.
Cummings was away with Flecha and Mayer behnd him a couple of seconds back.
The look and determination on Cummings face said it all and he won in a time of 4.05.02 for the biggest win of his career.
Speaking to Eurosport, Cummings said: "Just full gas very hard. The whole day was hard but I did really well. For me I have to win alone and I picked the good moment. I went 100% and that was it. It has been a difficult year and I'm delighted to have won."
Jaoquin Rodriquez keeps his lead in the race.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM