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

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — American rider Evan Huffman won from a five-man breakaway that barely survived a hard-chasing peloton to win the fourth stage of the Tour of California on Wednesday.

Bend’s Ian Boswell remains in third place overall, 14 seconds behind leader Rafal Majka. George Bennett is in second place, two seconds behind Majka.

Huffman was followed across the line by Rally Cycling teammate Rob Britton on a banner day for the U.S.-based squad that was granted one of the wild cards to compete in the race.

Lennard Hofstede, Mathias Le Turnier and Gavin Mannion followed them across after spending about 98 of the 99 miles from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita in the breakaway. Their advantage reached nine minutes before the peloton finally began giving serious chase, and by that point it was too late.

Peter Sagan led the field across the line 13 seconds behind the leaders.

Thursday’s fifth stage features the potentially decisive climb up Mount Baldy to the finish line. The 78-mile stage starts in Ontario and includes 12,000 feet of elevation gain.

The seven-stage race concludes Saturday in Pasadena.

—From wire reports