American rider Andrew Talansky won the fifth stage of the Tour of California on Thursday, emerging from a small pack at the end of a grueling climb to the finish just below the summit of Mt. Baldy.
The 28-year-old from Florida, who rides for Cannondale-Drapac, delivered a perfectly timed late burst to hold off Poland’s Rafal Majka in a close sprint to the line at the end of the 125km stage from Ontario, California into the heart of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Talansky, who is nicknamed the “Pit Bull,” won after a small group of podium contenders broke away from the peloton on the final climb.
George Bennett (LottoNl-Jumbo) kept his hopes of winning the overall title alive by finishing third.
Majka, of Bora-Hansgrohe, goes into Friday’s time trial with a six-second lead over Bennett in the overall.
Talansky’s win vaults him into fourth, 44 seconds adrift of Majka.
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