Sagan wins sprint and takes the Yellow Jersey in crash marred second stage

Gaviria crashes out before final sprint. Louis Leon Sanchez (Astana) and Tsgabu Grmay (Trek Segafredo) abandon

Stage two saw three riders establish the day's breakaway; Sylvain Chavanel, Dion Smith and Michael Gogl (Trek-Segafredo) went away from the start. Dion Smith won the 4th category KOM climb and took the Polka Dot Jersey and then dropped back to the peloton and so did Gogl .

Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) pressed on, and built up a maximum lead of 4 minutes with 100 kms to go.

Sagan took the intermediate sprint points ahead of Gaviria and Demare looking to start building points for the Green Jersey.

It looks as if Louis Leon Sanchez has broken a collar bone in a bad crash, he was seen getting into an ambulance. Tsgabu Grmay from Trek Segafredo abandoned with stomach problems.

The pace of the peloton increased, to catch Chavannel and with 30 kms to go Adam Yates has crashed and was off the back of the peloton. With around 10 kms to go and Chavanel was reeled, in as the Sprinters teams came to the front to control the race.

It was a chaotic finish with many narrow roads and tights turns. With 2 kms to go on a tight right hand bend, there was a big crash that saw sprint favorite Gaviria hit the deck and miss out in the final sprint. 

With many of the sprinter's team trains affected by the crash, a group of around 15 riders contested the sprint.Sagan was victorious, fending off Colbrelli, Demare, Greipel and Kristoff to take his 9th Tour de France stage win, and pull on the Yellow Jersey as race leader.

Tomorrow is a test of the GC contenders and their teams with a 35 km team time trial around Cholet that could see Briton's Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) move into the Yellow Jersey as the highest place GC favorite.

Sagan said "I’m really happy for today and I have to say a really big thank you to my BORA-hansgrohe teammates because they rode on the front for the last 30km and kept me safe in the finale. I expected the last few kilometres to be a bit easier, but it was really tough – up and down, left and right, before climbing again. I think starting the sprint later was better for me today Démare started with Degenkolb and I overtook them but I was really lucky Colbrelli didn’t get the jump on me. I’m very happy to take the Yellow Jersey today – both for me and for my team – it’s the first Yellow Jersey for the BORA-hansgrohe team and I wouldn’t be wearing it if it weren’t for them. I’m very happy to have so many fans, friends and family here. My father is here, as well as my friends from Žilina – my home town – and I want to dedicate my victory to my son, Marlon." 

VIDEO: 2018 Tour de France Stage 2 Highlights

2018 Tour de France Top 10

2018 Tour de France GC after Stage 2 

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 8:29:53 
2 Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:06 
3 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:10 
4 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:12 
5 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct Energie 0:00:13 
6 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:14 
7 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:15 
8 Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale   
9 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:16 
10 John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo