The Bora-Hansgrohe triumphed from a small group of riders at the close of a 144 kilometre stage from Modesto to San Jose.

A six-man breakaway group, including Latvia’s Toms Skujins, Britain’s Scott Thwaites and Colombia’s Daniel Jaramillo, moved clear after 35km of racing.

The group was slowly reduced to three riders as they approached Mount Hamilton, with Skujins eventually moving clear of Thwaites and Jaramillo as the climb began.

New Zealand’s George Bennett, the United States’ Ian Boswell, Australia’s Lachlan Morton and Majka would join up with the Skujins, having move away from the peloton.

It would prove the decisive move of the day, with the five riders staying together towards the top of the final climb up Quimby Road.

Majka accelerated at the top of the climb and looked certain to claim the stage victory, with the remaining breakaway riders setting off in pursuit.

Skujins suffered a crash, which would eventually force him to abandon the race, but Bennett, Boswell and Morton eventually rejoin Majka.

The Polish rider still claimed the stage win as he defeated Bennett in a sprint at the close of the stage, winning in a time of 3 hours, 43min and 46sec.

Bennett was awarded the same time in second, while Boswell and Morton were 7sec back.

Majka now holds the overall race lead, with Bennett lying two seconds adrift in the standings.

Racing will continue tomorrow with a 192km stage from Pismo Beach to Morro Bay.

The Giro d’Italia will resume tomorrow after a rest day today.