Steve Cummings (Barloworld) during his stage 19 effort, where he finished fourth (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Great Britain cycling star and Olympic medal contender Steve Cummings is having a short rest after his great Giro d'Italia. Cummings finished fourth on the race's most decisive mountain stage on Friday, the 238-kilometre stage to Monte Pora, which also was the longest of the race.
Cummings was part of a six-rider breakaway that formed just after the start. His finishing position saw him become the highest placed Briton in a mountain stage in a major Tour since mountain climbing star Robert Millar in 1989, when the Scot won a stage in the Tour de France.
Cummings also topped this off with an eighth place in the time trial on the final day. He beat former team-mate Alberto Contador, who calls Cummings "The Motor Bike."
This performance made him second best Briton on the final stage, as well as second best Brit overall, only 3'45 behind time trial expert David Millar.
Cummings said, "The mountain stage [stage 19 - ed.] seemed my last chance to win a stage; it wasn't originally planned, as my aim was to have a chance in the two previous easier stages but I didn't have the legs. A rest day messes me up a little, so I had to pick the hardest stage to have a go, clever of me, right? But it nearly worked out! I gave it everything – I couldn't have gone harder at the time but I am sure a better chance will come along. Back home they said the final time trial would be a battle just between Brad [Wiggins] and Dave [Millar]. I thought I was in good shape, although I suffered a lot in the last mountain stage on Saturday, but I expected that, after the day before, so I gave it a shot. Yes, I was pleased and I beat a lot of top riders, although Brad beat me by 11 seconds."
The next phase is marked by some rest before preparing for the big goal in Beijing. "My girlfriend Nicky is over here now, so a tiny bit of rest and then a lot of hard prep for the Olympics. I also hope to have a good end of season on the road in some of the big races."
Cummings plans for next year have been finalised and an announcement will be made soon.
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