After the breakaway success of yesterday and the gaps we've seen in the hills, it's a "rest day" for the GC guys who'll be looking to sit comfortably near the front but not wasting any energy.
Today is a day for the sprinters! We saw a very narrow win for Rajovic on Stage 2 over Bennett who will be looking to go 1 better. Numerous other riders will be looking for improvement too.
An aggressive start to the day as many riders down in the GC potentially sense an outside opportunity for success.
134km to go and we have our break of the day. 6 riders have made it today and they currently hold a gap of 2 minutes which is slowly growing. The highest placed in the GC of which is listed first: Le Court (+ 3'18) Van Dijke Skjelmose Jensen Arias Villanueva Matsuda, Huera
100km remaining and the gap is at 3'30. This does put Le Court in the provisional lead of the race!
None of the breakaway take any interest in the first intermediate sprint. Their eyes are on a greater prize as the gap is down to 2'44 with 88km to go. Matsuda did cross the line first though.
Same story at the 2nd of the 2 intermediate sprints. The gap remains at 2'48. Arias Villanueva leads the breakaway through.
The breakaway go across the finish line! There are still 35km remaining while their gap to the Peloton is 1'57.
The gap is coming down quickly not as it's only 42 seconds with 18km remaining. The top sprinters and their teams are all at the front.
9km remaining as the Peloton makes the catch.
4km to go and this is the situation at the front of the Peloton.
Alarcon
Govekar
Frame
Guardini
Moschetti
Bennett
Gibbons
Matthews
Bogdanovics
Dzervus
Stepniak
McLay
Guerao
Alaphilippe
Keough
Frankovic
Frame opens the sprint with 1.3km to go, Bennett is in his wheel. The other sprinters are all here but without much support.
Under the kite and the sprint opens up. The Glanbia duo still lead with Bennett not yet out of the wheel of his team mate.
200m to go and we have a line of 8 riders across the road from barrier to barrier. It's an all-out battle here.
Sam Bennett goes one better than Stage 2 and wins Stage 5 here in California!
Stepniak is 2nd ahead of Guerao in 3rd and the other top sprinters making up the top 10.
No changes in the GC where Fabbro remains in the lead with Americans 2nd, 3rd and 4th. An additional 2 in 7th and 8th. Bennett leads the Points convincingly. Fortunato will have his KOM contested tomorrow. Mader stays in the lead in the U25s. McCormick remain in the lead in the Teams.
Tour of California - Stage 5 
