Sagan sprints clear of pack to claim his 12th stage win
Peter Sagan delivered his 12th career Tour de France stage victory in Colmar as Julian Alaphilippe retained the yellow jersey for a third day.
Former world champion Sagan powered his way around Mitchelton-scott’s Matteo Trentin and held off Jumbo-visma’s Wout Van Aert in the final straight as the 175.5km stage from Saintdie-des-vosges was settled in a sprint finish.
Sagan’s first stage win of this year’s Tour saw the Borahansgrohe rider strengthen his grip on the points leader’s green jersey, which he is attempting to win for what would be a record seventh time.
Asked how the stage five win made him feel, the 29-year-old said: “Exquisite.”
“I just have to ride with passion and the victory comes,” he added.
Frenchman Alaphilippe of Deceuninck-quick Step, who has worn yellow since his solo win on stage three to Epernay, crossed the line in tenth place to retain the overall lead.
Second place on the day for Van Aert saw Alaphilippe’s cushion in yellow cut to 14 seconds, although Thursday’s first mountain stage to La Planche des Belles Filles is likely to see a complete rewrite of the general classification.
The yellow jersey contenders, their eyes already on the challenges to come, all crossed the line in the pack to ensure there was no significant movement in the standings.
That leaves Welsh defending champion Geraint Thomas, of Team Ineos, in seventh place, 45 seconds off yellow and five seconds behind his team-mate and co-leader Egan Bernal in sixth. And Thomas admitted that Thursday’s stage favours his younger team-mate. “It was nice to get a bit of climbing in the legs and build up for tomorrow,” he said. “We will find out a lot tomorrow. There are a lot of climbs before the last one tomorrow. It will be a challenge.”