Tour of California 2014 Canadian Routley outsprints fellow escapees

fotobureau Cor VosWill Routley took a dream win in the Tour of California as part of an escape that made it all the way to the finish. Wiggins maintains his GC lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

The escapees go by the names of Gregory Daniel, Christopher Jones, Jonathan Clarke, Kevin De Mesmaeker, Matt Cooke en Will Routley. After gaining a few minutes on the bunch, they found themselves with a strong tailwind in the last quarter of the stage and the realization set in that Cav et al would not be catching them today.

Canadian Will Routley outsprinted his fellow headbangers to take the stage win, something he's been looking to achieve for a long time in California. Cavendish wins the sprint from the peloton but will be disappointed that the escape got away.

Race leader Bradley Wiggins was smartly upfront as the peloton hit the finishing straight, avoiding a split in the pack and gaining 4 seconds on 2nd place Rohan Dennis.

Results 4th stage Tour of California 2014

1. Will Routley (Canada)
2. Gregory Daniel (USA) s.t.
3. Kevin de Mesmaker (Belgium) s.t.
4. Chris Jones (USA) s.t.
5. Matt Cooke (USA) s.t.
6. Jonathan Clark (USA) s.t.
7. Mark Cavendish (gbr) + 1.16
8. Peter Sagen (Slovenia) s.t.
9. Matthew Goss (Australia) s.t.
10. Taylor Phinney (USA)

GC after stage 4
1. Bradley Wiggins (gbr)
2. Rohan Dennis (Australia) +0.28
3. Tiago Machado (Portugal) + 1.09
4. Lawson Craddock (USA) + 1.25
5. Adam Yates (gbr) + 2.14
6. Peter Stetina (USA) + 2.28
7. Matthew Bussche (USA) +2.29
8. Carter Jones (USA) + 2.31
9. Laurens ten Dam (The Netherlands) + 2.333
10. Janier Acevedo (Spain) + 2.34