Bradley Wiggins wins the Tour of California as Mark Cavendish takes final stage

Bradley Wiggins (Sky) won the Tour of California on Sunday, successfully defending his race lead after winning the individual time trial stage on Monday.

Wiggins finished the race 30 seconds ahead of second-placed Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp), with best young rider Lawson Craddock (Giant-Shimano) completing the overall podium in third. Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) continued his run of form with fifth overall, two minutes and 14 seconds behind Wiggins.

>>> A Cycling Weekly subscription makes the perfect Christmas gift <<<

Wiggins thanked his team after the stage for rallying behind him: “As strong as my performance was in time trial, the team have taken the strain all week. They’ve done a fantastic job, even today they didn’t give up the chase.”

“This victory is right up there, the reception we’ve had from the US public… it’s been a real honour. At 34, it’s nice to still be winning at this age.”

It was double delight for British fans as Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) took the final stage win in another photo-finish with John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano). Stage seven winner Peter Sagan (Cannondale) came home for third.

It was a close-run stage for Cavendish, whose Omega Pharma-QuickStep team had to work hard to rejoin the peloton after being distanced on the stage’s final climb. As soon as the junction was made, Cavendish wasted no time in moving up to the front to ready himself for the finale.

Jack Bobridge (Belkin) put in an immense ride, getting into the day’s original breakaway of five riders. As his four companions were mopped up, Bobridge stayed out front and was joined by Jens Keukeleire (Orica), Lucas Euser (UnitedHealthcare) and Eloy Teruel (Jamis-Hagens Berman) on the fast finishing circuit. The quartet were caught with 5km to go.

Results
Amgen Tour of Calfornia 2014, stage eight: Thousand Oaks (Circuit Race), 135.2km
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-QuickStep in 2-53-50
2. John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Shimano
3. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
4. Matthew Goss (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
5. Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory Racing
6. Thor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing
7. Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin
8. Zakkari Dempster (Aus) NetApp-Endura
9. Alex Howes (USA) Garmin-Sharp
10. Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare all same time

Final overall classification
1. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky in 28-22-05
2. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Garmin-Sharp at 30 secs
3. Lawson Craddock (USA) Giant-Shimano at 1-48
4. Tiago Machado (Por) NetApp-Endura at 2-02
5. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge at 2-14
6. Peter Stetina (USA) BMC Racing at 2-30
7. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge at 2-39
8. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Belkin at 3-01
9. Janier Acevedo (Col) Garmin-Sharp at 3-05
10. David De La Cruz (Spa) NetApp-Endura at 3-06