MT. BALDY, California, MAY 19 – Robert Gesink of the
Netherlands won the penultimate stage of the Tour of California
on Saturday, all but ensuring he will claim the overall victory
when the eight-day race ends on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Gesink snatched the leader’s yellow jersey
after winning the gruelling 126 kilometre (78.3 mile) mountain
climb from Ontario to Mt Baldy in three hours 37 minutes and
eight seconds.
He started the day in third place, 38 seconds behind the
overall leader, American David Zabriskie, but ended up leading
by a commanding 46 seconds with only the short final stage in
Los Angeles to come.
Zabriskie remained second overall while Tom Danielson of the
U.S. moved into third place after finishing seventh in the
stage.
John Atapuma of Colombia was second in Saturday’s stage, in
the same time as Gesink, after leading most of the day. His
Countryman Fabio Duarte crossed the line, 14 seconds later.
(Editing by Julian Linden)
