Bradley Wiggins pips Aussie Rohan Dennis to win Tour of California

AUSTRALIAN Rohan Dennis has failed to close a 30-second gap between him and Britain's Bradley Wiggins who took the Tour of California title.

Bradley Wiggins, of Great Britain, receives congratulatory kisses as the overall winner o

AUSTRALIAN cyclist Rohan Dennis has failed to close a 30-second gap between him and Britain's Bradley Wiggins who took the Tour of California title following the final stage over rolling hills in Los Angeles. Wiggins secured his first race victory in eight months on Sunday with a pack finish in the eighth stage which was won by compatriot Mark Cavendish.

Wiggins, the 2012 Tour de France winner who rides for Sky, held the race lead for the final week and defeated Australian Dennis of Garmin-Sharp by 30 seconds.

Rohan Dennis of Australia riding for Team Garmin-Sharp speaks to Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain riding for Team Sky before the start of final stage of the 2014 Amgen Tour of California.

American Lawson Craddock of Giant-Shimano was third overall, 1 minute and 48 seconds behind.

Cavendish, who rides for Omega Pharma Quick-Step, claimed his second stage of the race by a few inches and completed the 76.1-mile circuit race, in 2 hours, 53 minutes, 50 seconds.

German rider John Degenkolb of Giant Shimano was second in the final stage, with Slovakian Peter Sagan of Cannondale third in the same time as Cavendish.