Tour of California 2014: Sir Bradley Wiggins retains yellow jersey but Taylor Phinney secures stage five win in impressive fashion

Phinney broke clear with a solo burst before holding off the pursuing peloton

Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain riding for Team Sky defends his yellow jersey during stage five of the 2014 Amgen Tour of California (Getty Images)

Sir Bradley Wiggins maintained his advantage at the top of the leaderboard following stage five of the Tour of California, which was won in impressive fashion by Taylor Phinney.

American Phinney of BMC Racing claimed the day's honours after mounting a solo breakaway just after the riders had gone over the San Marcos Pass and then holding off the pursuing peloton.

Phinney completed the 179.4-kilometre trek from Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara in three hours, 59 minutes and 33 seconds, finishing 12 seconds clear of the chasing pack, with Peter Sagan taking second in a sprint finish and Matthew Goss third.

Wiggins was also part of that group along with his main rivals at the top of the general classification, meaning the 2012 Tour de France champion kept his 28-second lead over Australian Rohan Dennis (Garmin Sharp) intact.

The Team Sky rider is also one minute and nine seconds clear of third-placed Tiago Machado with Lawson Craddock a further 14 seconds back. Another Briton, Adam Yates, is fifth but over two minutes adrift of Wiggins.

PA