Multiple track world champion Cameron Meyer has finished in ninth place from a successful breakaway on stage 13 of the Vuelta a Espana.

A furious start to racing made it a difficult day to establish a move but eventually, after a huge 70km of racing, 24 riders joined together to form a big group.

As with any large group there were some who worked and others that didn’t, but the group stayed together and in front until the latter part of proceedings.

Then, they lost all cohesion, attacking each other from within before the solo move of Nelson Oliveira (Lampre – Merida) off the final descent proved successful as the remainder of the group looked at each other.

“It was a huge effort by Cameron today on what was a very difficult start,” sport director Neil Stephens said. “He was in the original break of eight, which was a fantastic break, it was just unfortunate that another break went over to them and it became a little too big.

“Hats off to him for getting in the break, he has done some important work over the course of this Vuelta and it’s really nice to see him actually going for a stage himself.”

Meyer has been a crucial worker for ORICA-GreenEDGE’s general classification ambitions with Colombian Esteban Chaves, particularly in the mountains. Chaves finished safely in the bunch to maintain fifth overall.

“Every member of the team is important for Esteban, but Cam’s role has been particularly important as the last guy there with Esteban into the climbs,” Stephens said. “We have seen that on many stages so far and we will see it again in what is left of the Vuelta.

"It was  a very fast stage with a break at km 70," Chaves said. "I said to my Colombian friends it's like a race in Colombia. All day full gas and finally the break.

"Tomorrow we have three very important days in the mountains. The plan I think for us is to follow the big riders, save energy and maybe one day you have very good legs and you try. We now have 15 days in the legs and now the legs are not like they were in Malaga. I'm tired."