Vuelta a Espana 2013 - Stage 13

The Vuelta a Espana continued today with a 169 kilometre stage from Valls to Castelldefels. It was advertised as a medium mountain stage, which was about right (for a change) and looked to be ideal breakaway territory. The race paid tribute to Xavi Tondo, a former Movistar rider who was tragically killed in a horrific accident before training at his home, that was witnessed by friend and training partner Benat Inxausti. He was honoured by a small ceremony, which was attended by his parents.

The fact that the stage was ideal for a break was not lost on the peloton, as 18 of its number got into the day's move. Prominent figures were the Lampre-Merida team leader Michele Scarponi, Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-Quickstep), Benat Inxausti (Movistar) and a duo from Sky - Vasil Kiryienka and Xabier Zandio. 

The break was never allowed much time before they hit the day's major climb, and they started to splinter going up it. Michele Scarponi pushed the pace along, and was soon alone; he led over the top. No major favourites were put in any danger by the climb, but it did whittle the main group to about 40 riders. Joaquim Rodriguez, Nicolas Roche and one of Rodriguez's teammates did make a quick escape on the climb, but were soon brought back, and it was more likely that their higher tempo just caught the group by surprise, rather than an all-out attack being attempted by the trio.

Once over the climb, Scarponi was joined by more riders including; Benat Inxausti (Movistar), Bauke Mollema (Belkin), Ivan Santaromita (BMC), Warren Barguil (Argos-Shimano), Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural), Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale), Jerome Coppel (Cofidis) and Xabier Zandio (Sky Procycling). They soon pushed out the gap to around three minutes, and it was left up to Cannondale and Astana to keep the group under control.

It soon became apparent that the break had snapped the elastic of the peloton, and that they were going to stay away. Despite futile attempts at chasing from FDJ and Omega Pharma-Quickstep, the gap remained solid, and so the infighting within the breakaway commenced. There was drama with around six kilometres to go when Benat Inxausti, then in the lead group, took a rather acrobatic tumble in a tunnel, nearly taking out Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Scarponi. 

He was up quickly, but would not see the front of the race again. It looked as if it was just a lapse in concentration from the Spaniard, but the corner actually caught out a few members of the peloton too, including points classification leader, and first lieutenant to Joaquim Rodriguez, Daniel Moreno. The infighting in the break continued through the last few kilometres, with Scarponi putting in a big effort to split the group. 

However, they were together with one kilometre to go, and it was there that the young Frenchman Warren Barguil jumped away from the group. The rest of the men just looked at each other long enough for Barguil to get a gap, and it was he who took a fine stage win for France. So, what do the majority of the media do when Barguil wins? Well, he's young, French, and can win a bike race, so hence they label him France's newest "hope for the future", which is possibly the most unwanted title in cycling. 

There was no change in the standings today, it seems the favourites were saving themselves for the long Pyrenean weekend of climbing that's about to smack them in the face.