Cavendish wins final stage in California as Sagan takes thrilling title
Peter Sagan lunges to the line to take third place, and with it the overall title at the Tour of California, as Mark Cavendish wins in Los Angeles

Peter Sagan may not have been able to keep up with Mark Cavendish as the Manxman won his fourth stage of the Tour of California, but the Tinkoff-Saxo rider did just enough on the line to grab the bonus seconds that would secure him the title.
Cavendish, supported by incumbent yellow jersey holder Julian Alaphilippe, and Wouter Wippert took first and second and MTN-Qhubeka's Tyler Farrar looked set to snatch the vital third place.
But a well-timed lunge for the line saw Sagan take the all-important time bonus seconds by mere inches, enough to leapfrog Alaphilippe, winner of stage seven's summit finish at Mt Baldy, into first place in the General Classification.
“After the finish I didn’t know if I was third or fourth and I had to wait,” Sagan said. “My soigneur came running to me and yelled “you’re third, you’re third” and I asked him several times, if he was sure and then the race organizers confirmed it to me three times and in the end I believed them. I am very pleased."
Cavendish's win was his fourth of the race, having crossed the line first in stages one, two and five, while Alaphilippe's win on Saturday ensured a great week for the Etixx-Quick-Step team.
Alaphilippe said after claiming the yellow jersey on stage seven that he would continue with the original plan of working for Cavendish on the final sprint in Pasadena, even if it meant relinquishing his lead.
Team Sky finished with three riders in the top 10, with Sergio Henao claiming third, Ian Boswell seventh and Peter Kennaugh ninth. Young Brit Tao Geoghegan Hart finished in 13th place, two minutes and 36 seconds down on Sagan.
Tour of California stage eight, Los Angeles - Los Angeles (105km)
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Etixx-Quick-Step, 2:14:55
2. Wouter Wippert (Ned) Drapac Pro Cycling, st
3. Peter Sagan (Slo) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
4. Tyler Farrar (USA) MTN-Qhubeka, st
5. Tom van Asbroeck (Bel) LottoNL-Jumbo, st
6. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Jamis-Hagens Berman, st
7. Zico Waeytens (Bel) Giant-Alpecin, st
8. Andrea Peron (Ita) Novo-Nordisk, st
9. Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Cycling, st
10. Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Novo-Nordisk, st
General Classification
1. Peter Sagan (Slo) Tinkoff-Saxo, 28:13:12
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx-Quick-Step, at 3sec
3. Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky, at 37sec
4. Joe Dombrowski (USA) Cannondale-Garmin, at 1m14s
5. Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 1m15s
6. Haimar Zubeldia (Esp) Trek Factory Racing, at 1m16s
7. Ian Boswell (USA) Team Sky, at 1m23s
8. Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) Trek Factory Racing, at 1m24s
9. Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky, at 1m44s
10. Rob Britton (Can) Team SmartStop, at 2m10
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Mark Cavendish sprints to his second British National Road title
The Manx missile put in a stellar performance in Scotland to secure the second National road title of his illustrious career
By Pete Trifunovic • Published
-
Emma Langley drops breakaway companion in the last 500 meters to win the Stars & Stripes jersey
English-born Emma Langley (EF Education-Tibco SVB) wins the 2022 US National Road Championships, de Crescenzo settles for silver
By Clara Beard • Published
-
Mark Cavendish confident of strong Giro d'Italia but attempts to manage expectations: 'People seem to forget I had a punctured lung at the end of November'
The Manxman seemed motivated in the press conference as he returns to the Italian Grand Tour after a nine-year hiatus
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mark Cavendish frustrated on final Tour of Oman stage as Jan Hirt wins overall
Sprinter boxed out on stage six finish, as Fernando Gaviria triumphs
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mark Cavendish loses green jersey and fined at Tour of Oman ahead of stage six
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl penalised by race jury for being pushed back to peloton by car
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish crashes 'quite heavily' on stage five of Tour of Oman
Jan Hirt takes stage win and race lead atop Green Mountain on the penultimate day
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish raring to get 2022 campaign underway at Tour of Oman: 'It doesn't matter how you're going until you compare yourself with the other people'
Cavendish starts his 2022 campaign at the the Tour of Oman on Thursday
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mark Cavendish set to return from Ghent Six crash with season debut at Tour of Oman
Cavendish has recovered from the two broken ribs and punctured lung he suffered at the end of November to lead Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl in Oman
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Peter Sagan rescued stranded cycling tourist in Gran Canaria who thought group of pros were a 'bunch of kids'
Along with three other pros, Sagan helped fix a 63-year-old's puncture in Gran Canaria
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Police search for two men in connection to Mark Cavendish aggravated burglary case
Police have asked people to come forward if they know their whereabouts
By Jonny Long • Published