Brave ride from Chaves takes back into Vuelta lead

Colombian rider Esteban Chaves (Orica Green Edge) on Thursday produced a heroic ride to win his second stage of this year's Vuelta de Espana (Tour of Spain) cycle race and reclaim the overall race leader's jersey he had lost by one second just 24 hours earlier.

The sixth stage, which was raced in 35 degree heat between Cordoba and Sierra de Cazorla, ended with two climbs in the last 40 kilometers of the 200 kilometer stage and with a third category climb up to the finish.

With the first major mountain stage due, it was a chance for a breakaway to try to make it home, but also for the race favorites to steal some vital seconds if they were willing to risk their legs ahead of Friday.

A six man group did manage to break away for most of the stage, but when the peloton had hauled them back to just 29 seconds with 12 kilometers remaining, Steve Cummings (MTN Qhubeka) took his chance and rode clear of the group, opening a minute's gap over the peloton.

The main group reacted but Cummings took a 20 second break into the last three kilometers, which included ramps of 15 percent and former race leader Esteban Chaves flew past Cummings as the English rider hit the wall with 2km remaining.

Tom Dumoulin, who took the overall lead from Chaves on Wednesday then rode off the peloton to chase Chaves down, but he was unable to bridge the gap and was beaten into second by Dan Martin, but all the plaudits go to the popular Chaves for a great ride which sees him back in red for Friday's 191 km stage between Jodar to La Alpujarra.

This sees the race go into the high mountains for the first time finishing with an 18 kilometer first category climb, which should produce the first major time differences in the race. Endi