Denifl escapes with only cuts and bruises after dramatic crash on stage five

Stefan Denifl (Leopard Trek) sweats through the California sunshine.

Stefan Denifl (Leopard Trek) sweats through the California sunshine. (Image credit: Mark Johnson/www.ironstring.com)

The Amgen Tour of Califonia's fifth stage did not go as smoothly for Stefan Denifl as he would've liked. After riding in the break all day during Thursday’s long 217.4 kilometer stage between Seaside and Paso Robles, Denifl was caught up in dramatic incident just 15km out from the finish. The Leopard-Trek rider instigated an attack from the breakaway that drew out three-time World Champion Oscar Freire . The twosome looked likely to leave their breakaway companions behind and divide the spoils of stage victory.