Steve Cummings wins stage 13 of 2012 Vuelta a España

Stephen Cummings turned the tables on a miserable season winning the 13th stage of the Vuelta a Espana today in what is the best result of his career to date.

The 31-year-old was part of the definitive seven-man breakaway that escaped some 45km into the rolling 172.8km race from Santiago de Compostela to Ferrol and stayed away.

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) held onto the leader's jersey and has a 13 second advantage over Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank). Sky's Chris Froome remains in striking distance at third overall and 51 seconds behind the race leader.

Cummings's solo victory came after a well-timed attack on his fellow escapees within the final 5km that saw the break, which had worked well together, split.

Australian Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) chased furiously with Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) on his wheel but could not bridge to the stage winner and had to settle for second.

"For me to win, I have to win alone," said Cummings who dedicated the result to his BMC Racing team. "I just tried to wait for a good moment. That was my best victory, for sure, it's been a very difficult year."

The win comes after a disruptive season that comprised just 22 race days prior to the Tour de France where Cummings worked for defending champion Cadel Evans. Cummings broke his pelvis at the Tour of Algarve in February. He then broke his left wrist at the Tour of the Basque Country only to week's later injure it again at the Tour of California.

German sprinter John Degenkolb started the day hopeful of securing a fifth stage win. His Argos-Shimano team, as well as Lotto-Belisol, controlled affairs in the peloton but could not reel in the break, which had a maximum time advantage of about two minutes and 30 seconds. The chase became disorganised within the final 10km with minor attacks ensuing.

Cummings, Meyer, Flecha, Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge), Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM), Linus Gerdemann (RadioShack-Nissan) and Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) comprised the successful breakaway. Viviani dropped back toward the end of the stage and didn't finish within the top 10.

Stage 13 results, Santiago de Compostela to Ferrol, 172.8km

1. Stephen Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing 4:05:02

2. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:00:04

3. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky

4. Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:00:14

5. Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Radioshack-Nissan

6. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM

7. John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano 0:00:40

8. Allan Davis (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge

9. Ben Swift (GBr) Sky

10. Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale

General classification after Stage 13

1. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha 48:56:17

2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank 0:00:13

3. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky 0:00:51

4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar 0:01:20

5. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:02:59

6. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha 0:03:29

7. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:04:22

8. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp 0:05:17

9. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank 0:05:18

10. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 0:06:01

Steve Cummings celebrates his stage win

Vuelta a Espana 2012: Reports

Stage one report: Movistar win team time trial

Stage two report: Degenkolb wins, Swift third

Stage three report: Valverde victorious after Contador attacksStage four report: Rodriguez takes over lead after Valverde crashesStage five report: Degenkolb wins again

Stage six report: Froome gains time on ContadorStage seven report: Degenkolb makes it three at Vuelta

Stage eight report: Valverde doubles his score in AndorraStage nine report: Gilbert pips Rodriguez in Barcelona

Stage 10 report: Degenkolb continues unbeaten sprint record

Stage 11: Rodriguez hangs onto lead as Kessiakoff wins time trial

Stage 12: Rodriguez wins stage 12 to extend Vuelta lead

Stage 13: Cummings returns to winner's circle in Spain

Vuelta a Espana 2012: Photos

Stage one TTT gallery

Stage two gallery

Stage three gallery Stage four galleryStage five gallery

Stage six gallery

Stage seven gallery

Stage eight gallery
Stage nine gallery
Stage 10 gallery

Stage 11 gallery

Stage 12 gallery

Stage 13 gallery

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