FOLSOM, Calif. — Eighth place felt like first for Julian Alaphilippe on Friday.
The French cyclist known for his climbing ability turned in a surprising performance in the Stage 6 time trial at the Tour of California, minimizing his losses in a discipline that has proven difficult for him in the past to retain his overall race lead.
Rohan Dennis won the stage with a blistering performance, covering the 12.6-mile course in 24 minutes 16 seconds. But the Australian rider — and one of the world’s best against the clock — was still 16 seconds behind Alaphilippe heading into the penultimate stage.
BMC Racing’s Brent Bookwalter turned in the fifth-best time, vaulting into third in the overall standings. The veteran American rider was 38 seconds behind Alaphilippe.
“I think that today was probably one of the best time trials that I’ve done, so I am happy with that,” Dennis said. “It was also a good indication that after six days, everything I have done leading up to now has been working and I am on the right track, especially after not a whole lot of racing. I’m in a good place mentally with my form and I was happy to come away with that win.”
Earlier, Twenty16-Ridebiker won the women’s team time trial over the same course, followed by Boels-Dolmans and UnitedHealthcare. Megan Guarnier retained the overall lead.
The stage figured to be the biggest hurdle to victory for Alaphilippe, who doggedly held onto the leader’s jersey he won with an impressive climb up Gibraltar Road. He was 14 seconds off the pace of Dennis at the midway checkpoint before fading to eighth place on the stage.
The reigning U.S. time trial champion, Andrew Talansky, finished 17 seconds behind Dennis to take second on the stage. Taylor Phinney was 20 seconds back in third place.
Their performances could prove critical in selecting the U.S. team for the Rio Olympics.
Due to the way spots in the Olympic road race are allocated, the Americans only received two starting spots. But they also have two spots in the time trial, and riders must compete in the road race to take part in the time trial, meaning time-trial specialists could get the nod.
Talansky and Phinney certainly showed USA Cycling officials their ability against the clock.
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Amgen Tour of California winner Julian Alaphilippe (yellow jersey) celebrates on the podium with runner-up Rohan Dennis, left, and third-placer Brent Bookwalter on May 22 in Sacramento.
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Julian Alaphilippe, left, is congratulated by Etixx/Quick-Step teammate Tom Boonen after clinching the overall title for the Amgen Tour of California on May 22 in Sacramento.
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Mark Cavendish celebrates after winning the eighth and final stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 22 in Sacramento.
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Amgen Tour of California women’s winner Megan Guarnier is congratulated by men’s competitor Taylor Phinney after the final stage Sunday.
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Peter Sagan of Slovokia rides past a vineyard near Santa Rosa during the seventh stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 21.
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Cattle cross the road in front of a group of riders in open range during the seventh stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 21.
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Julian Alaphilippe of France retained the overall lead in the Amgen Tour of California on May 21 during the seventh stage.
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Norway’s Alexander Kristoff, right, overtakes of Peter Sagan of Slovakia in the final sprint of the seventh stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 21 in Santa Rosa.
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Alexander Kristoff reacts after winning the seventh stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 21 in Santa Rosa.
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American Brent Bookwalter starts the individual time trial during the sixth stagte of the Amgen Tour of California on May 20 in Folsom.
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Britain’s Bradley Wiggins competes alongside a motorcyle with a cameraman during the sixth stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 20.
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Julian Alaphilippe of France takes part in the individual time trial during the sixth stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 20.
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Rohan Dennis of Australia won the individual time trail during the sixth stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 20 in Folsom.
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Riders in the peleton cycle along Caples Lake during the fifth stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 19.
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France’s Julian Alaphilippe, the overall race leader, crosses the finish line during the fifth stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 19.
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Cyclists climb along Carson Pass Highway during the fifth stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 19, as racers made their way from Lodi to South Lake Tahoe.
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Toms Skujins of Latvia celebrates after winning the fifth stage of the Amgen Tour of California, a race from Lodi to South Lake Tahoe, on May 19.
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Riders in the peloton makes their way up a hill along Route 1 during the fourth stage of the Tour of California on May 18.
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Riders in the Tour of California’s fourth stage cross the Bixby Bridge on their way from Morro Bay to Monterey on May 18.
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Riders in the peleton make their way along the coast during the fourth stage of the Tour of California on May 18.
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Riders in the peleton pass through San Simeon on the ride from Morro Bay to Monterey during fourth stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 18.
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Peter Sagan of Slovakia is kissed by the podium girls after being awarded the green jersey for the points leader following the third stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 17.
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Britain’s Peter Kennaugh, left, and France’s Bryan Coquard were involved in a crash during the third stage of the Tour of California on May 17.
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The peloton makes the climb along Casitas Pass Road during stage three of the Amgen Tour of California on May 17.
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A fan with a Union Jack runs on the road as Britain’s Andrew Tennant leads a breakaway along Westlake Boulevard in Thousand Oaks during the third stage of the Tour of California on May 17.
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Ben King raises his hand in the air after edging out Evan Huffman to win stage 2 of the Tour of California in Santa Clarita on May 16.
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Peter Sagan (yellow jersey) rides in the peloton not far from a fan running down the road during the second stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 16.
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Racers start the second stage of the Amgen Tour of California in South Pasadena on May 16.
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Fans in South Pasadena cheer as racers start the 92-mile second stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 16.
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Racers start the stage 2 ride of the Amgen Tour of California, from the first-time host city of South Pasadena to the veteran host city of Santa Clarita, on May 16.
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A fan takes photos as racers start the stage 2 ride of the Amgen Tour of California, from South Pasadena to Santa Clarita, on May 16.
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Reigning race champion Peter Sagan, center in yellow jersey, waves to fans as racers prepare to start the second stage of the Amgen Tour of California in South Pasadena on May 16.
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Racers are poised to start the second stage of the Amgen Tour of California in South Pasadena on May 16.
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Ben King celebrates after winning stage 2 of the Amgen Tour of California in Santa Clarita on May 16.
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Ben King, Amgen Tour of California stage 2 winner, stands between second-place finisher Evan Huffman, left, and third-place finisher Alexander Kristoff during the podium presentation in Santa Clarita on May 16.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) The women’s race was changed to a team time trial for the first time, and Twenty16-Ridebiker pulled off an upset of sorts by pipping world silver medalist Boels-Dolmans by 6 seconds.
“We’re a unique team. We each bring something different to the table, a different strength,” said Twenty16’s Kristin Armstrong. “Every team member gave it everything they had.”
It wasn’t enough to give Armstrong the overall lead. The two-time Olympic gold medalist remained 12 seconds back of Guarnier, one of the Boels-Dolmans riders, with two stages to go.
Guarnier’s teammate, Evelyn Stevens, was 22 seconds back in third.
The seventh stage Saturday begins and ends in Santa Rosa, in the heart of Sonoma County. The men will cover a 109-mile loop that includes a couple of mid-stage climbs, while the women cover 64 miles with a single climb on Coleman Valley Road that could shake things up.
