Intro:

Rohan Dennis of Australia surged within the final 300 yards to claim the third stage and reduce Bradley Wiggins' race lead in the Tour of California on Tuesday.

Script:

The third stage of the 2014 Tour of California took place on Tuesday with the days challenge a 108.5 mile ride from San Jose to Mount Diablo State Park.

Eight riders escaped from the 127-rider field early in the stage. The group crested Mt. Hamilton together after 21 miles and built more than a six-minute lead. The group was reduced to seven as it's cushion was 4 minutes 20 seconds with 30 miles left.

With five miles to go and the steepest part of the day reaming, only three riders remained in front. They were absorbed a few minutes later before a series of unsustained short solo bursts.

Rohan Dennis of Australia surged within the final 300 yards to claim the hot and mountainous third stage.

Dennis, who began the stage in second place overall, finished in a time of 4 hours, 56 minutes and 2 seconds.

Tiago Machado of Portugal was second, trailing Dennis by 6 seconds and American Lawson Craddock was third, another 2 seconds further back.

Bradley Wiggins of Britain, who took the race lead with his dominating Stage 2 time trial win, finished ninth in the stage, trailing the leader by 20 seconds.

Wiggins, the 2012 Tour de France winner, leads Dennis by 24 seconds with five stages remaining.