With four of eight stages completed, including the queen stage on day 3 and a difficult run up the California coastline during stage 4, the Tour of California general classification contenders have established themselves and the pecking order is set heading into the final four days. Cyclingnews takes a look at how the GC men have fared so far.
Rider: Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-QuickStep)
GC Position: Leader
Maybe losing his lead last year on the final day of the Tour of California still stings for the 23-year-old Frenchman, because Alaphilippe showed on Wednesday that he is going to grab every possible second over his rivals on the way to the finish in Sacramento. Last year, he led the race by two seconds over Peter Sagan heading into stage 8 in Pasadena, but the time bonus Sagan got for his third-place finish that day lifted him past Alaphilippe by just two seconds.
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On Wednesday, Alaphilippe won the first intermediate sprint – and a three-second time bonus – ahead of BMC's Jempy Drucker and Sagan. Then he finished on the same time with the leaders to keep his lead intact.
Bidon half full or half empty? With double-digit lead and a strong team supporting him, right now Alaphilippe has two full bidons.
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