Alaphilippe climbs to Stage 3 win in Tour of California

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:07 p.m. ET

foxsports

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) French phenom Julian Alaphilippe attacked inside the final mile of the grueling climb up Gibraltar Road to win Stage 3 of the Tour of California on Tuesday and assume the overall race lead.

The 23-year-old Alaphilippe bridged a 24-second gap to Peter Stetina in one big push, then rode away from his American rival to the finish. He thrust his arms in the air after crossing the line to celebrate a stage victory that could make him the man to beat when the race concludes on Sunday.

Alaphilippe led on the penultimate day a year ago before finishing second by a mere 3 seconds.

Stetina crossed in second but has a 19-second deficit in the general classification. George Bennett finished third with Brent Bookwalter and 19-year-old Neilson Powless right behind.