Team Cannondale-Garmin is poised to do battle on the queen stage of the Tour of California after a shortened time trial resulted in the general classification remaining close. Ben King was the top rider for the green argyle, narrowly missing the top ten by a mere second.

“The course was interesting with some neat little features, more undulating than I expected,” said Ben King. “You couldn’t really lay off, you had to go full gas the whole way. It felt like a long 10km in the recon but of course in a race it goes by fast. I really wanted that top ten and was just only one second off!”

The team’s GC contender Joe Dombrowski comes out of the time trial in great position for the Mt. Baldy finish.

“Joe is where we expect him to be,” said Director Sportif Johnny Weltz. “This course did not suit his style and we want him to be ready for tomorrow.”

Looking forward to Saturday, Weltz said the plan is to race hard. “We came to race it tomorrow. Joe has proved he is in good form and he knows this stage. We have built up to it and we are here to get a result.”

“Tomorrow is going to be really exciting and unpredictable because the course is quite difficult,” said King. “Joe is our man and we will race hard for him.”