Team Novo Nordisk’s Javier Megias starred in the main breakaway on Stage 5 of the Tour of California while teammate Andrea Peron sprinted to a top 15 position.

Team Novo Nordisk was determined to leave its mark on Thursday’s 173.1-kilometer stage. Finnish rider Joonas Henttala was the first rider of the race to attack. Teammate after teammate continued fighting until Megias was able to make a five-man break under threatening skies. With overall classifications on the line, the peloton was never willing to let the escapees build much of a gap. By the time the break reached Balcom Canyon, it was raining steadily. With slick roads and a technical descent, Megias fell back from the break and was reabsorbed by the peloton. Conditions only worsened and the rest of the breakaway was caught as the race reached Santa Clarita. Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step) sprinted to the win while Peron finished in 14th place.

“We worked really well together in the break, but the rain made a huge impact. I don’t have much confidence in the rain, especially after my crash on Stage 3,” Megias said. “I believe that if it hadn’t been raining, maybe we could have stayed away. I felt really good in the break and I want to try again on either Stage 7 or 8.”

Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step) won the bunch sprint ahead of Zico Waeytens (Team Giant-Alpecin) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo).

Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, continues racing at the Amgen Tour of California on Friday with an individual time trial. Stage 6’s race against the clock was moved from Big Bear Lake to Santa Clarita and Six Flags Magic Mountain due to snow. The new stage is a 10.6-km out and back on a technical course.