Sylvain Georges wins the sixth stage of the Amgen Tour of California

Sylvain Georges wins the sixth stage of the Amgen Tour of California

Sylvain Georges of Team Ag2r-La Mondiale has joined the winning club at the Amgen Tour of California 2012.

The cyclist rode brilliantly during the 186.3 kilometre stage 6 of the race and overcame the race favourites.

He completed the race in a quickest time of 5 hours, 7 minutes and 6 seconds and occupied the top podium spot.

Peter Sagan of Team Liquigas-Cannondale, Peter Velits of Team Omega Pharma-QuickStep, Tom Dumoulin of Team Argos-Shimano and Greg Van Avermaet of Team BMC achieved the  next four positions in the respective order.

It is Georges’ first professional victory and the French has shown tremendous legs as he sprinted through the pack of 6 cyclists and claimed the top spot.

The French was over the moon after the victory and thanked his team-mates for their support during the event.

He noted after crossing the finish line, “The most difficult thing about the final kilometers was in my head”.

“I hurt everywhere, I was starting to go cross-eyed and getting cramps, but I was able to focus and fight through it. It was the hardest 15km of my life”.

“Sebastian Hinault is a leader of the team and I take advice from him often, so to win on the same day as him makes it extra special for me and the team”.

The French thanked his Team Director and numerous fans that supported him throughout the race, “I wasn’t alone, knowing my family is back home watching and knowing how badly AG2R needed this win”.

Sylvain also succeeded during the second sprint of the race while Gregory Rast of Team RadioShack-Nissan proved his dominance during the opening sprint of the race.

Stage 5 winner, David Zabriskie of Team Garmin-Barracuda is still leading the final general classifications.

Tejay Van Garderen of Team BMC is holding the second position with a deficit of 34 seconds over the race leader.

Robert Gesink of Team Rabobank, Peter Velits of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Andrew Talansky of Team Garmin-Barracuda are holding the third, the fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.

Peter Sagan of Team Liquigas-Cannondale bagged the first four stages of the Californian race and is now dropped down to the 25^th overall spot after the final general classifications.