Acevedo Maintains Overall Lead In Tour Of California Third Stage

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) — Peter Sagan of Slovakia sprinted to the Stage 3 win and Colombian Janier Acevedo maintained the race lead Tuesday as strong winds replaced the heat at the Tour of California.

Sagan (Cannondale) completed the 110.3-mile Palmdale to Santa Clarita road race in 4 hours, 20 minutes, 31 seconds and was victorious by about a half-bike length.

Michael Matthews (Orica-Greenedge) of Australia was second and American Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) was third in the mass sprint finish.

Acevedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman), who won Stage 2, finished in the main field and leads American Tejay van Garderen (BMC) by 12 seconds with five stages left in the eighth annual event. Van Garderen (BMc) also finished in the main field.

Philip Deignan (UnitedHealthcare) of Ireland is third overall, trailing by 27 seconds.

Temperatures were about 20 degrees cooler in Stage 3 than in the previous stage, but the riders dealt with 20 mph headwinds and crosswinds.

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