Photo ABCs

Tour of California: Peter Sagan

Another shot of Peter Sagan climbing Mt. Baldy.

Tour of California: Peter Sagan

Most surprising of all, however, was the performance of Peter Sagan. Determined to hold the yellow jersey, he placed sixth on the mountainous stage, just 47 seconds behind Julian Alaphilippe. This put him two seconds behind Alaphilippe in the overall standings, setting up the most exciting final day in the history of the Tour of California.

Shortly after Alaphilippe, Henao, and others attacked the yellow jersey group, Sagan fights his way up Mt. Baldy alone.

 

Tour of California: Julian Alaphilippe

It was Julian Alaphilippe who once again surprised everyone with a convincing win on Mt. Baldy.

Tour of California: Sergio Henao

Most favored Colombian rider Sergio Henao to win on Mt. Baldy, and Team Sky set him up for the attack. However, he finished second on the stage.

Tour of California: Cavendish and Sagan

Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan start stage 7 of the 2015 Tour of California, which would take them from Ontario, California, to the heights of Mt. Baldy.

Cavendish wears the top sprinter's green jersey, and Sagan wears the race leader's yellow jersey, having claimed it in the previous day's time trial. Very few expected him to wear it at the end of the day, after over 11,000 feet of climbing, but in an interview, Sagan said he would try to defend the jersey.

Tour of California: Julian Alaphilippe

Julian Alaphilippe competes in the time trial in the 2015 Tour of California. He wears the white jersey for being the best young rider at that point in the race.

Tour of California: Robert Gesink

Robert Gesink, winner of the 2012 Tour of California, here competes in the 2015 Tour of California time trial at Santa Clarita, California.

Tour of California: Peter Kennaugh

British cycling star Peter Kennaugh competes in the 2015 Tour of California time trial at Santa Clarita, California.

Tour of California: Toms Skujins

Toms Skujins was a revelation of the 2015 Tour of California. This young Latvian rider launched a successful breakaway on stage 3, putting him into the leader's yellow jersey, which he held going into the stage 6 time trial.

Here Skujins rides the time trial in Santa Clarita.

Tour of California: Peter Sagan

I was fortunate to watch three stages of this year's Tour of California, including the time trial held at Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita. Here is Peter Sagan, who would win the time trial, gaining the leader's yellow jersey in the process.