Sagan wins the second stage victory at the Tour

Peter Sagan wins after 204.5 km in the mountain sprint. (Photo: Yorick Jansens / Imago)

BMC Swiss driver Stefan Küng worked hard to put his captain Greg Van Avermaet in good position at the fifth stage of the Tour de France. The preparation was successful: in the home stretch, the Belgian, wearing the leader's yellow jersey, was able to start the last sprint of the remaining sprinters. But in the last meters, Van Avermaet had to let six competitors pass. The Slovak Peter Sagan imposed himself in front of the Italian Sonny Colbrelli in Quimper, ensuring his second stage victory. "There was a bit of luck today," said Sagan at the finish in the face of Colbrelli 's impressive final acceleration.

The 204.5-kilometer stage saw five climbs in the third and fourth categories. Several sprinters like Mark Cavendish and Marcel Kittel have lost the connection to the early top. Van Avermaet keeps the yellow jersey. However, his compatriot Philippe Gilbert, who was the storm of the day, thanks to time credits approached him to three seconds. The Quick Step driver will attempt to take the lead in the coming days until arriving in Roubaix on Sunday. The favorites of the overall victory, including reigning champion Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana, reached the finish line on Wednesday at the same time in the group of 38 heads.