Tuesday 19 May 2015 13:45, UK
Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe claimed his first victory of the season with a powerful finish up Mount Baldy, dislodging Peter Sagan from the Tour of California lead.
Alaphilippe, who turns 23 next month, sprinted away from the challengers with about 4km to go in the 128km seventh stage from Ontario to the mountain's ski resort.
The Etixx - Quick-Step rider now has a two-second lead over Sagan in the overall classification following a courageous performance from the Slovakian rider.
Sagan, of Tinkoff-Saxo, crossed the finish line 47 seconds adrift of Alaphilippe after starting the stage with a 45-second lead over the Frenchman.
Sagan had nothing left after his storming ride up the beyond-category switchback ascent, climbing off his bike and collapsing to the pavement at 1,964m - and he ultimately finished the stage in sixth.
Pre-race favourite Sergio Henao finished runner-up, 23 seconds behind Alaphilippe alongside Team Sky team-mate Ian Boswell.
Joe Dombrowski, of Cannondale-Garmin, and Trek's Riccardo Zoidl rounded out the top five.
Sunday's 105km eighth and final stage, from downtown Los Angeles to the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, should end with another sprint finish.
Stage seven results
1. J Alaphilippe (Etixx-QuickStep) 3:42:13
2. S Luis Henao Montoya (Team Sky) +23secs
3. I Boswell (Team Sky) +23secs
4. J Lloyd Dombrowski (Cannondale-Garmin) +36secs
5. R Zoidl (Trek) +45secs
6. P Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) +47secs
7. H Zubeldia Agirre (Trek) +53secs
8. R (LottoNL-Jumbo) +1min
9. P Kennaugh (Team Sky) +1min 17secs
10. L Ten Dam (LottoNL-Jumbo) +1min 26secs
General classification
1. J Alaphilippe (Etixx-QuickStep) 25:58:21
2. P Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) +2secs
3. S Luis Henao Montoya (Team Sky) +33secs
4. J Lloyd Dombrowski (Cannondale-Garmin) +1min 10secs
5. R Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo) +1min 11secs
6. H Zubeldia Agirre (Trek) +1min 12secs
7. I Boswell (Team Sky) +1min 19secs
8. R Zoidl (Trek) +1min 20secs
9. P Kennaugh (Team Sky) +1min 40secs
10. R Britton (SmartStop) +2mins 6secs
