Stage 6: Palmdale to Big Bear Lake

Start: Palmdale
Finish: Big Bear Lake
KM: 217.7

Stage finish: 54th

General: 46th

Avg watts: 203w (244np)

Max Watts: 895

Avg Heart Rate: 139

Max HR: 173

KJ: 4843

TSS: 361

Wow what a day. The Palmdale to Big Bear stage 4 was a massive 213kms race straight up seven categorized climbs. Not only did the climbs take their toll but the elevation gain placed the riders near 7,500ft

Jakob Fuglsang rode off the fornt of the race within a group of 8 men that gained a maximum of 6:40.

261average watts were his highest of the Tour of California so far.

Wow what a day of racing. The Palmdale to Big Bear stage 4 was a massive 213kms race straight up seven categorized climbs. Not only did the climbs take their toll but the elevation gain placed the riders near 7,500ft

The course was in a nutshell two three-hour climbs with a descent in the middle. Oh plus cross winds between the two mountains. This was an unrelenting stage. If it wasn't the actual climbing that killed you, the wind and thin air at 7,000ft would.

This stage was by far the hardest of the Tour of California having produced Darren's highest kilojoules at 4843. He also set his highest TSS value at 361. Darren had a good day considering he had to ride so hard in stage 5 the previous day. He made it over the highest point in the race with the main field but then when Radio Shack went to the front and split the group Darren just didn't have the legs. He went on to finish tied for 54th 31' down.