Tour of California

Wiggins leads Tour of California

ESPN staff

May 13, 2014

Sir Bradley Wiggins leads Tour of California

Sir Bradley Wiggins leads the Tour of California after the Briton won the individual time trial on stage two.

The 2012 Tour de France champion takes the yellow jersey from fellow Briton Mark Cavendish, who claimed victory on the opening stage on Monday, after completing the 20.1-kilometre course in Folsom in a time of 23 minutes and 18 seconds.

Wiggins, who decided not to take part in this year's Giro d'Italia in order to compete in the Tour of California, is 44 seconds clear of Rohan Dennis at the top of the overall standings.

"I didn't plan to have taken as much time as that but it was a great course for me and I'd prepared well for it," Team Sky's Wiggins told BBC Sport.

"I've worked hard towards this and, on a day like today, it all clicks into place and comes together as a true test of where you're at."

Wiggins believes stage three on Tuesday, a 174.5km course which ends with a climb on Mount Diablo, will provide his biggest test of the eight-day race.

"I've been here for a few weeks now and the real stuff starts tomorrow," he said. "I'm in a good position and I'm climbing well.

"It's going to be quite a long week for the boys and it's going to get a lot hotter these next few days. But it's a great position to be in."