Alex Howes likes it when the conditions are not what most cyclists consider ideal. So with rain forecast for Thursday’s stage he jumped at the opportunity and made it into the main breakaway. And the rain delivered, soaking the drought-stricken state and making the descent into Santa Clarita a wet one.

“It’s the kinda thing I’m good at,” said Howes. “I was having a ton of fun on the downhill with it being wet.”

Unfortunately the breakaway included riders high on the overall, so the peloton did not afford the group much of a leash. With Howes’ skill in descending in the wet, the group was split in half. And on the long flat run into the finish the sprinter’s teams did enough work to chase them down.

“We challenged the sprinters teams by putting a rider in the break,” said Director Sportif Johnny Weltz. “We knew it would be tough to stay away but Alex did a solid job out there for the team today.”

With the weather also affecting the race’s time trial, making it short and technical, the race will likely be decided on the queen stage up to Mt. Baldy.