Alaphilippe Leads Going Into Final Tour Of California Stage

18 May 2015 10:16

Julien Alaphillippe of Etixx Quick Step has won the eighth stage of the Tour Of California and is the leader going into the final stage.

Peter Sagan of Tinkoff Saxo was the race leader following his time trial win in to this 128.7km race which started in Ontario and finished on top of Mount Baldy.

Daniel Oss, Johan Zyl of MTN Qhubeka, Lachlan Morton and Greg Brenes were in the lead by a minute from the peloton who were chasing Chris Butler of Smartstop, then Laisse Norman Hansen and Danielle Ratto.

Oss took the first KOM on Glendora Ridge Road and Hansen took the intermediate sprint as the gap went out to 2.40.

Van Zyl led with just under forty kilometres to go so Oss went after him and the pair took a 21 second lead.

Oss took the next climb with the peloton only a minute behind. Team Sky were doing the work on the front and they got past Van Zyl and continued to set the pace which had Peter Sagan right on their wheel.

Riders were dropping out the back as Henao and Julian Alaphillipe of Etixx Quick Step worked together with five kilometres to go.

Away went Alaphillipe and although Sagan gave him a good run for his money before dropping back, Alaphilippe took the win in 3.42.13, twenty three seconds ahead of Henao. Peter Sagan finished 47 seconds down and Alaphilippe now leads the race by two seconds.

Source: DSG