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United States | Southeast | Virginia >> Peter Sagan claims stage 2 of the Tour de France as Alberto Contador loses time on his rivals

Peter Sagan claims stage 2 of the Tour de France

World Champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) unknowingly won the uphill sprint finish into Cherbourg, outsprinting Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx – Quick-Step) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).. The victory and time bonus that came with it put the Tinkoff rider into the yellow jersey as race leader.

“I am very surprised I won, because I was thinking out front there were still two guys,” Sagan said. “And then I finished first and I still didn’t know. And then I’m here and people told me I won!” The victory earned Sagan the race lead, and therefore, his first ever yellow jersey. 

The stage was a mixed bag for Sagan’s Tinkoff team, however, as a bruised and battered Alberto Contador lost time in the finale. The Spaniard, who crashed in the middle of the stage for the second time in two days, crossed the line 48 seconds behind his stage-winning teammate.

He wasn’t the only GC hopeful to lose time — BMC’s Richie Porte suffered an untimely puncture inside the final 10 kilometers, and despite his best efforts to catch up to the pack, the Australian came home 1:45 down.

Stage 2, Top 10 Finishers

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team 4:02:51 
2 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx – Quick-Step 
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 
4 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx – Quick-Step 
5 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange 
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 
7 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal 
8 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 
9 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 
10 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky

General classification after stage 2

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team 8:34:42 
2 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx – Quick-Step 0:00:08 
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:10 
4 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin 0:00:14 
5 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 
6 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 
7 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 
8 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff Team 
9 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange 
10 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx – Quick-Step