The major difficulties are in the first half of the stage, but there is still a potential headwind and enough terrain to make for another hard day. The 11.3km, 610m (2,000ft) San Marcos Pass ascent will provide an excellent springboard for a well-motivated breakaway group. Descending the south side, the race enters the Santa Ynez Valley wine region, setting for the film Sideways.
The riders will next pass through Los Olivos, the site of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Heading north up Foxen Canyon Road the race will cross through Santa Maria and then head to Guadalupe through this agricultural area’s fields of broccoli, carrots, melons and other produce. Expect another field sprint at the finish in Avila Beach. The contenders for the overall might want to avail themselves of the town’s hot springs as the next two days will be crucial in the race for the leader’s jersey.
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Ryan Mullen defends Irish elite men's title in time trial ahead of Peden and Rafferty
Trio of riders repeat on podium with NSN Cycling's WorldTour veteran carving out bigger margin of victory -
Derek Gee-West secures third elite men's time trial title at Canadian Road Championships
Lidl-Trek rider beats Nickolas Zukowsky and Pier-André Côté in Saint-Georges -
Lara Gillespie strikes for gold in elite women's time trial debut at Irish National Time Trial Championship
Linda Kelly repeats with second place while Marine Lenehan secures third -
Nadia Gontova claims career-first elite women's time trial title at Canadian Road Championships
Paula Findlay second, Emily Driedger third in Saint Georges, Quebec
