Nat Bromhead
Triple world Champion Peter Sagan has done it again, the standout rider of a generation winning his second stage of the 2018 Tour de France.
Stage 5 of this year’s Tour was undoubtedly the most challenging so far with five categorised climbs through often narrow, twisting and turning country roads or rural Brittany.
Early crashes increased nerves in the bunch, and a group of seven – later reduced to 3 – made their early escape to became the day’s breakaway. That held until just 10km from the finish with key protagonists – BMC Racing Team, Team Sky & Bora-hansgrohe on or near the front.
Untroubled by the final rolling hills and pouncing at the most opportune of moments, Peter Sagan appeared to make easy work of the win and finished more than a bike length ahead.
“My Bora-hansgrohe teammates did an amazing job today,” said a typically understated Sagan. “In the final stretch Sky started to pull hard and go full speed, and then Gilbert came over the climb fast too. He tried to attack but we caught him and after, I think Van Avermaet started a little too early, so it really left me and Colbrelli to fight it out.”
Describing the stage as similar to a one-day classic, Sagan said during the Tour de France “everything is different”.
“The parcours was like an Ardennes classic – up down, left, right, narrow roads,” he said.
“Technically it was a nice parcours. While there weren’t as many points today – just 30 for the win – it’s better than nothing though, and tomorrow is another day.”
Results Stage 5
01 P.Sagan 4h48’06”
02 S.Colbrelli +0:00
03 P.Gilbert +0:00
04 A.Valverde +0:00
05 J.Alaphilippe +0:00
