Vuelta; Stage 13 (Aug 31): Santiago de Compostela-Ferrol;*contains unmasked spoilers*

dastardly00

Stage 13 (Aug 31): Santiago de Compostela - Ferrol
Distance: 172.7km
Highest point: 410m
Category: Rolling

"Beyond today’s stage there are no less than three tough summit finishes, which should ensure that the overall contenders will rein in their teammates and let the sprinters duke this one out with the riders that make it into the break. Those riders who do get clear will know all too well that this is one of their last chances to take something from the race. The terrain is typically Galician, bumping up and down, particularly during the first half of the day. Once again, the wind off the Atlantic could cause some complications heading towards the finish in the port of Ferrol, which last welcomed the Vuelta 19 years ago".

Given the success of Degenkolb in bunch sprint finishes, Argos-Shimano will probably be the only team who will be willing to put in a lot of effort to chase down the breakaway today. Everyone else will either have a rider in the breakaway or will want a rest! For those reasons, surely today's winner will come from a breakaway.

Stage profile:


Live coverage on Eurosport2 from 3pm.
Highlights on Eurosport2 at 7.45pm and at midnight, and on ITV4 at 7pm.
Stage betting: Degenkolb 4/6; Altro 9/5; Bennati 8/1.

dastardly00

10km left. The remnants of a breakaway are about 30 seconds ahead of the main bunch. There are a few attacks in the peloton as well. Nothing for the GC contenders to worry about.

manwithaplan

Has even one breakaway survived to the end of a stage in the Vuelta this year? It's been great racing on those steep finishes but there appears to have been bugger all for the escapados.

retalivity

theres one now...

dastardly00

Stage result:

1. Stephen Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing Team 4:05:02
2. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdge 0:00:04
3. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Procycling
4. Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdge 0:00:14
5. Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Radioshack-Nissan
6. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team
7. John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano 0:00:40
8. Allan Davis (Aus) Orica - GreenEdge
9. Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Procycling
10. Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale

Nico finished safely in the main bunch.

No change to the GC Top 10.

gwakamoley

It's been so long since I've seen a stage like that that I'd forgotten that flat finishes can actually be exciting too. It's strange seeing the peleton simply unable to close down a gap. In the tour it seemed any time the break stayed away it was because the peleton just couldn't be bothered racing.

Solobally8

Really exciting finish. Have to say I'm loving the Vuelta, watched todays stage while on my turbo- very motivating! Looking forward to the mountains tomorrow.

ednwireland

brilliant finish, vuelta served up another great stage, shimano not enough power to close that down, great win for cummings as well.