Martin defends Tour of Beijing title after Cummings outsprints Hesjedal to win final stage

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Stephen Cummings of Great Britain celebrates as he finishes first in the final stage of the Tour of Beijing cycling competitions on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan)

BEIJING, China – Tony Martin of Germany successfully defended his Tour of Beijing title Saturday after Steven Cummings of Britain beat Ryder Hesjedal in a two-man sprint to claim the fifth and final stage.

Canadian rider Hesjedal led the final climb to tear apart the leading group of breakaway riders in the 182.5-kilometre (113.5-mile) stage, but neither he nor Cummings could threaten Omega Pharma-QuickStep’s Martin for the overall victory. Cummings, of BMC Racing, easily won the sprint to take the stage, with Martin finishing 18 seconds behind.

Team Sky rider Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway finished third in the stage.

RadioShack-Nissan’s Andy Schleck abandoned the stage after just 42 kilometres (26 miles). The 2010 Tour de France champion, and runner-up in 2009 and 2011, failed to win a race this year.

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