Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Carlos Verona was the top finisher of another hot, difficult stage on Friday: AMGEN Tour of California Stage 6.
Verona finished 24th in a stage that was decided by a lone rider out of the original breakaway. Johan Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEDGE) won the stage solo, attacking his former breakmates late on the HC climb to the finish, while behind him the peloton dwindled down to just a handful of riders including race leader Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky).
David De La Cruz (Team NetApp-Endura) and Tom Danielson (Garmin-Sharp), who were also in the original breakaway, finished 2nd and 3rd.
Tom Boonen withdrew from the race, as did several other riders as conditions were very hot.
Mark Cavendish and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck suffered a crash earlier in the stage, but both rejoined the peloton.
OPQS looks next to a 143.5km Stage 7, from Santa Clarita to Pasadena. The stage includes back-to-back categorized climbs (Angeles Forest, Angeles Crest) in the middle of the stage, but the race then descends to a flat finish.
