Van Garderen clings onto Tour of California Race lead after late crash

Tejay Van Garderen was awarded the same as the peloton after being caught up in multiple crashes

It was largely uneventful day filled with incredible views of Bur Sur down to Morro bay along the famous Highway 1.

The breakaway was caught with around 10 kms to go and then all hell broke lose.

Van Garderen was involved in a crash with around 6 kms to go, got back on and with the help of his EF teammates, fought to catch up with the peloton.

Just as they did another crash held them up with around 3 kms to go, resulting Van garderen losing aorunf 50 seconds and the race lead.

However, the race jury, on investigation decided to award those held up in the final crash with 3 kms to go the same time.

Van Garderen thus retained his lead. 

In the final sprint it was Jakobsen who beat Philipsen and Sagan on the line in a closely contested sprint finish.

VIDEO: 2019 Tour of California Stage 4 Highlights

2019 Tour of California Stage 4 Top 10

1 Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck-QuickStep 5:53:22 
2 Jasper Philipsen (Bel) UAE Team Emirates   
3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe   
4 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits   
5 Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (SAf) Dimension Data   
6 Davide Ballerini (Ita) Astana Pro Team   
7 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain-Merida   
8 Kristoffer Halvoersen (Nor) Team Ineos   
9 Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma   
10 Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep

2019 Tour of California GC after Stage 4

1 Tejay van Garderen (USA) EF Education First 21:16:50 
2 Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Ineos 0:00:06 
3 Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:07 
4 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:16 
5 Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:22 
6 Rob Britton (USA) Rally UHC Cycling 0:00:33 
7 Jonas Gregaard Wilsly (Den) Astana Pro Team   
8 David de la Cruz (Spa) Team Ineos 0:00:34 
9 Felix Großschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:35 
10 George Bennet (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:00:36