Jonathan Dibben of Team Sky won today's Amgen stage 6 time trial around Big Bear Lake, but it was the ride of George Bennett that shook up the overall leader board.
Yesterday, Bennett of Team Lotto NL - Jumbo and Andrew Talansky of Cannondale Drapac raced for the finish of Amgen Tour of California stage 5.
Talansky won Thursday's stage by two seconds over Bennett and Rafal Majka of Bora Hansgrohe.
Talansky and Bennett's times were neck and neck again for today's stage - a 14.9-mile race around Big Bear Lake.
Talansky took third today, again edging Bennett by two seconds. But no one's smile was brighter after the race than Bennett's. His performance vaulted him past Majka for the overall lead with just one day remaining.
Bennett says he was not confident coming back from yesterday's third-place finish to Talansky and Majka. "No one expected this less than I did. I mean, yeah, people sort of mentioned I could do it. But, normally, I really back myself, but today I didn't. After yesterday, I was so disappointed. And then today, I just, I can't believe it, man."
He says he realized midway through the half hour ride that he was tearing up the course, "Franz, the guy who's on my radio he doesn't really get excited about much and then after halfway, he just lit up and I knew I was on a good time. And then I just started riding and pushing, pushing, pushing."
Bennett will wear the yellow jersey on Saturday for the seventh-and-final stage.
Majka finished nearly a minute behind Dibben today and is now 35 seconds back overall.
Two straight strong stages for Talansky have put him on the podium for two consecutive days.
He is 36 seconds back.
Brent Bookwalter of BMC finished second in the time trial and is now fourth overall, 45 seconds back. Ian Boswell of Team Sky is fifth and a minute behind.
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