CLOVIS, Calif. (AP) — Slovakia’s Peter Sagan of Slovakia raced to his event-opening fourth straight stage victory in the Tour of California on Wednesday to increase his overall lead to 16 seconds.
The 22-year-old Sagan, riding for Liquigas-Cannondale, finished the 130.2-mile stage from Sonora to Clovis — the longest leg in the race — in 5 hours, 18 minutes, 8 seconds in 95-degree conditions.
Australia’s Heinrich Haussler, racing for Garmin-Barracuda, was second for the fourth straight day, about a bike-length behind. Rabobank’s Michael Matthews, also from Australia, was third in the stage.
Jeff Louder, the United Healthcare rider from Salt Lake City, was 34 seconds back in third place with four stages left.
