Twenty-one year old neo-pro Warren Barguil (Argos-Shimano) has taken the biggest win of his young career on stage 13 of the Vuelta a Espana with a well-timed attack well beyond his years to win alone in Castelldefels.
The lanky Frenchman, who won last year's Tour de l'Avenir before joining the Argos squad, found himself in the crucial break of 10 riders that formed on the first category Rat Penat climb with 50km to race.
As his rivals played cat and mouse in the final 5km, he expertly took advantage of his unmarked position to strike just as the riders around him were tiring.
He may be a climbing specialist but he found enough brute force in his little legs to solo the final 2km to the line.
Behind him the rest of the break must have been wondering how they let the win get away, with Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r-La Mondiale) leading them somewhat dejectedly over the line.
Race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) maintained his overall advantage by finishing in the peloton. He leads Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff) by 31 seconds.
Results
Vuelta a Espana 2013, stage 12: Valls to Castelldefels, 169km
1. Warren Barguil (Argos-Shimano) in 3-58-58
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2. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
3. Bauke Mollema (Belkin)
4. Ivan Santaromita (BMC)
5. Xavier Zandio (Sky)
6. Amets Txurruka (Caja-Rural)
7. Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida)
8. Igoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) all at 7 secs
9. Jerome Coppel (Cofidis) at 23 secs
10. Benat Inxausti (Movistar) at 2-34
Overall classification after stage 13
1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana in 49-29-02
2. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Saxo-Tinkoff at 0-31
3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 0-46
4. Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack-Leopard at st
5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 2-33
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 2-44
7. Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale at 2-55
8. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ at 3-35
9. Rafal Majka (Pol) Saxo-Tinkoff at 3-46
10. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha at 3-56
Vincenzo Nibali: Safe in the red jersey
Warren Barguil celebrates his first major win
Vuelta a Espana 2013: Stage reports
Stage 12: Gilbert wins rare sprint as Nibali keeps red
Stage 11: Cancellara wins time trial, Nibali regains red
Stage 10: Horner wins stage and regains race lead
Stage nine: Moreno wins stage to take race lead
Stage eight: Konig wins, Roche takes lead
Stage seven: Stybar wins from escape
Stage six: Morkov wins after Martin's day-long escape
Stage five: Matthews wins in Lago de Sanabria
Stage four: Moreno wins tough stage
Stage three: Horner takes charge with stage win and overall lead
Stage two: Nicolas Roche attacks to win
Stage one: Astana takes opening team time trial
Vuelta a Espana 2013: Photo galleries
Stage 12 photo gallery
Stage 11 photo gallery
Stage 10 photo gallery
Stage nine photo gallery
Stage eight photo gallery
Stage seven photo gallery
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one photo gallery
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