Vuelta a Espana 2013 - Stage 6

The Vuelta continued today, and six days in, and the excitement level hasn't dropped below fever pitch. Today was a flat stage, with no categorized climbs, so it was something for the sprinters to really get their teeth into, and to make them stop crying into their paella after every stage. The ride itself was 175 kilometres from Guijuelo to Caceres. 

Even the flat stages of the Vuelta like to throw up drama and suspense, and today was no exception. The reigning world time trial champion, Tony Martin, initiated a breakaway from the gun today, and when others tried and failed to follow his wheel, he pressed on nonetheless. With a maximum advantage of over six minutes, it was just presumed that Martin would eventually crack and fall back into the pack.

Meanwhile, back in the pack, it was a more relaxing day for race leader Vincenzo Nibali, who will no doubt be glad for the rest. The same can be said for the likes of Alejandro Valverde, Joaquim Rodriguez and Ivan Basso, who all rested and recovered for the upcoming mountains. The same cannot be said for Tony Martin, who aside from being alone in the heat, also was reportedly suffering from saddle sores. He resisted the urge to try out an old myth and slap a steak between his cheeks, and pressed on regardless. 

With ten kilometres, his advantage was below 30 seconds, and it was presumed it was a matter of minutes before he was swept up by an angry looking peloton. However, this was the world champion, and with five kilometres to go he was still ahead. Surely, it'll be within the next few minutes he'll be brought back though?

No, actually. The next time you looked, Tony Martin was on the home straight, wrestling his bike for any extra power, with some angry sprinters (sort of) bearing down on him. Cruelly, Martin was overtook within five metres of the line, and it was Michael Morkov (Saxo-Tinkoff) who took the win, infront of Max Richeze (Lampre-Merida) and Spartacus himself Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack).

The real star of the show however has to be Tony Martin, who sent a psychological blow to the likes of Cancellara, Wiggins and Phinney, who are all trying to take his crown of world time trial champion come September.