Bend's Ian Boswell(Russ Ellis/Team Sky)

MOUNT BALDY, Calif. — Andrew Talansky sprinted clear of overall leader Rafal Majka at the top of the grueling climb of Mount Baldy, winning the fifth stage of the Tour of California in style on Thursday.

Bend’s Ian Boswell stayed with the lead group of riders that dwindled from eight to four up the final 5-mile climb of the 78-mile stage that included 12,000 feet of elevation gain. He made a move to take the lead just about 500 meters from the finish line, but he could not keep it and he finished fourth in the stage.

Boswell remains in third place overall, 25 seconds behind Majka.

Talansky, an American rider for Team Cannondale, kept driving the lead group up the 10 percent grade, the hot pace dropping several other contenders on the way to the line. Talansky and Majka kept attacking, but it was Talansky whose move ahead of the final left-hand corner stuck, shortly after Boswell’s attack.

Majka finished second and expanded his lead on George Bennett to six seconds by finishing ahead of him by two seconds and earning a time bonus. Bennett finished third. Friday’s stage is a 15-mile individual time trial at Big Bear Lake.

The seven-stage Tour of California concludes Saturday with a 78-mile road race from Mountain High to Pasadena.

— From staff and 
wire reports