Spain's Ivan Garcia wins Tough Sprint Finish in Ventura, California
Tricky uphill finish was won by Spanish rider Ivan Garcia (Bahrain-Merida). Tejay Van Garderen still in the race lead ahead of Mount Baldy stage
There was a big breakaway today; Davide Ballerini (Astana Pro Team), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Neilson Powless (Team Jumbo-Visma), Michael Schär (CCC Team), Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), Brandon McNulty (Rally UHC Cycling), Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates), Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Lennard Hofstede (Team Jumbo-Visma), Leonardo Basso (Team Ineos).
It imploded as the race neared ths finish, Tim de Clerk has attacked but was caught by the speeding pelotn with a few kms to go.
Richeze opened up the sprint and Ivan Garcia came round to claim the stage victory.
Tomorrow's Stage 6 has seen legends made and winners decided. After four consecutive stages averaging 130 miles per day, the riders would normally look forward to a 79-mile stage with only three climbs…but not with Mt. Baldy looming! This “Queen Stage” is compared to the epic stages of the European Grand Tours.
It is very possible that the winner of the 2019 Amgen Tour of California will be decided on the final 15 switchbacks to the Mt. Baldy finish.
VIDEO: 2019 Tour of California Stage 5 Finish
2019 Tour of California Stage 5 Top 10
1 Ivan Garcia (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 4:56:11
2 Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Deceuninck-QuickStep
3 Sergio Higuita (Col) EF Education First
4 Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ned) Team Sunweb
5 Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep
6 Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
7 Pawel Bernas (Pol) CCC Team
8 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
9 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
10 Hugo Houle (Can) Astana Pro Team
2019 Tour of California GC after stage 5
1 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) EF Education First 26:13:01
2 Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:04
3 Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Ineos 0:00:06
4 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:16
5 Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:22
6 Sergio Higuita (Col) EF Education First 0:00:28
7 Jonas Gregaard Wilsly (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:00:33
8 George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:00:34
9 Felix Großschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:35
10 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First 0:00:36