Tuesday 19 May 2015 13:45, UK
Mark Cavendish sprinted to his 13th win of the season on the final stage of the Tour of California as Peter Sagan pipped Julian Alaphilippe to overall victory in a remarkable climax to the eight-day race.
Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) started the stage two seconds behind overnight leader Alaphilippe (Etixx – Quick-Step) in the general classification but turned that into a three-second triumph thanks to bonus seconds at both the day’s intermediate sprint and finish line.
Three, two and one bonus seconds were on offer for the first three over the line at the intermediate sprint and although Cavendish (Etixx – Quick-Step) gobbled up the three seconds in an effort to protect his team-mate’s lead, Sagan and Alaphilippe finished second and third respectively as the Slovak reduced his overall deficit to one second.
That left him needing to claim a top-three place at the stage finish in Pasadena, where another 10, six and four bonus seconds were on offer, in order to overhaul Alaphilippe, who is not competitive in bunch sprints and was unlikely to challenge.
Cavendish once again streaked away to a comfortable victory – his fourth at this year’s race – to scoop the 10 seconds and Wouter Wippert (Drapac Professional Cycling) took second place to claim the six.
Tyler Farrar (MTN-Qhubeka) overtook Sagan in the finishing straight and look certain to finish third, but then the Slovak conjured a final burst of speed and a lunge for the line saw him take third place and the four bonus seconds by a matter of millimetres.
It was so close that both Sagan and Alaphilippe, who was 12th, thought they had claimed overall victory and began celebrating with team-mates, but then the Frenchman’s joy was dashed when a photo of the finish showed Sagan had indeed edge out Farrar.
The victory was Sagan's third of the season and first in a general classification since the 2011 Tour of Poland.
Team Sky's Sergio Henao finished third overall, 37 seconds down, while Cavendish secured victory in the points classification.
Stage eight result
1 Mark Cavendish (GB) Etixx – Quick-Step, 2:14:55
2 Wouter Wippert (Ned) Drapac Professional Cycling, same time
3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
4 Tyler Farrar (USA) MTN-Qhubeka, st
5 Tom van Asbroeck (Bel) LottoNL-Jumbo, st
Selected others
12 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx – Quick-Step, st
Final general classification
1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo, 28:13:12
2 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx – Quick-Step, +3secs
3 Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky, +37
4 Joe Dombrowski (USA) Cannondale-Garmin, +1:14
5 Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, +1:15
Selected others
9 Peter Kennaugh (GB) Team Sky, +1:44
12 Tao Geoghegan Hart (GB) Axeon Cycling Team, +2:36
