World Champion Peter Sagan (SVK) of Tinkoff has claimed his 15th all-time Amgen Tour of California stage win after a long and hilly ride northward on one of the most scenic and iconic stretches of California roadway, Highway 1, through Monterey County.
“It was hard, but good,” said Sagan, when asked about today’s stage. “I’m very happy for my other teammates, and I’m very happy to have won.”
At 133.6 miles, the 2016 race’s longest stage began in Central Coast’s charming Morro Bay. The peloton of 133 faced undulating hills much of the day with a total of 8,500 feet of climbing during the only south-to-north route along Highway 1 in 11 years of the race.
Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka’s Mark Cavendish (GBR), who has nine Amgen Tour of California stage wins to his credit, was among a breakaway that formed about an hour into the race and stuck until a series of climbs toward the stage conclusion in the final miles. The 2011 World Champion was awarded the Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey for his ride out front.
Photos © Darrell Parks
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“The plan today was to get in the break,” said Cavendish. “We had a good card to play with Nathan Haas in the final, which we wanted to, but we didn’t want to have to ride to do that, because we wanted as many guys as possible in the final to help him, so the best option to support that was to get in the break.”
Also in the breakaway were Axeon Hagens Berman’s 21 year-old Greg Daniel (Denver, Colo.), who spent his second day in the row riding out front, and Direct Énergie’s Ryan Anderson (CAN).
In the last seven miles of the race, the peloton faced two categorized climbs to reach the finish at a destination known worldwide for speed, the Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway. As the cyclists fought it out in the streets, the breakaway was mostly overtaken and the peloton shattered, with attacks coming from all sides as riders vied for position early in the climb.
The WorldTour teams worked up front including Etixx – Quick-Step’s Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) to defend his Amgen Race Leader Jersey won yesterday. The last remnants of the breakaway, Anderson drove at the front, with Daniel eventually gaining ground to take a solo first position up the climb with about 3 miles left to ride.
A chase group containing Sagan, Nathan Haas (AUS) of South Africa’s Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka and Alaphilippe caught up to Daniel with about two miles to go. Another attack from Axeon Hagens Berman, this time from Ruben Guerreiro (POR), was countered by Haas after a hairpin right turn on the race track, to take the lead with just over one mile to go. BMC Racing Team’s Samuel Sánchez (ESP) worked to close the gap, with Sagan coming forward to put himself into contention for the finish sprint.
Haas attacked on the final climb and led out the sprint to the finish. Sagan summoned his trademark burst of speed to propel him there first. Haas ended the stage in third place, with BMC Racing Team’s Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) swooping in to claim second.
Sagan’s performance will put him in the Visit California Sprint Jersey tomorrow, and he is the overall leader for that Points competition as well. The SRAM Best Young Rider Jersey will stay with Neilson Powless (USA) of Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team, who turned in another impressive performance on today’s climb, and Rally Cycling’s Evan Huffman (USA) retains the Lexus King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey.
At the midpoint of the race, there is no change to overall top-5 riders with Alaphilippe retaining overall lead by 22 seconds over Trek – Segafredo’s Peter Stetina (USA), followed by George Bennett (NZL) of Team Lotto NL – Jumbo, BMC Racing Team’s Brent Bookwalter (USA) and Powless, all within striking distance and 43 seconds of the race leader.
Australian general classification contender Lachlan Morton (Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis) got caught up in a crash at bottom of the climb on Laureles Road. His teammates worked to pace him back, but the setback resulted in a drop from 7th to 37th place overall.
Stage 4 Podium
1. Peter Sagan (SVK), Tinkoff (USA)
2. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), BMC Racing Team (USA)
3. Nathan Haas (AUS), Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka (RSA)
Stage 4 Jersey Winners
◦ Amgen Leader Jersey – Julian Alaphilippe (FRA), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (BEL)
◦ Lexus King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey – Evan Huffman (USA), Rally Cycling Team (USA)
◦ Visit California Sprint Jersey – Peter Sagan (SVK), Tinkoff (RUS)
◦ SRAM Best Young Rider Jersey – Neilson Powless (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team (USA)
◦ Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey – Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka (RSA)
MEN’S STAGE 5 TOMORROW, PRESENTED BY VISIT CALIFORNIA
Thurs., May 19 – Lodi to South Lake Tahoe
Start Time: 9:45 a.m. PDT
Estimated Finish Time: 3:46 p.m. PDT
WOMEN’S STAGE 1 TOMORROW
Thurs., May 19 – South Lake Tahoe
Start Time: 10:50 a.m. PDT
Estimated Finish Time: 2 p.m. PDT
Amgen Tour of California fans can catch the action daily with live coverage of the race on NBC Sports Network (live conclusion on NBC on May 22), follow along on the Microsoft Tour Tracker App for mobile and desktop, and connect with the race through all of their favorite social media platforms. Links are available at the Social drop-down menu at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com and fans can use #AMERICASGREATESTRACE to join the conversation.
