Daily Times

LA ROCHE-SUR-YON: A year after being kicked out of the Tour de France, world champion Peter Sagan was back with a bang as he claimed victory in the second stage to take the overall leader’s yellow jersey on Sunday. The Slovak, riding for Bora-Hansgroh, beat Italian Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) and France’s Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ), who were second and third, respectively, on Sunday. Sagan was thrown out after the fourth stage 12 months ago for sending Mark Cavendish crashing in a chaotic sprint. There were no complaints about his finish this time round. “It’s a perfect day, I was a bit scared because Sonny was coming back strong,” said Sagan, who also wore the yellow jersey in 2016. “It’s a very good start. I’m really back.” Colombian Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors), who won the opening stage on Saturday and wore the yellow jersey during the 182.5-kilometre stage from Mouilleron-Saint-Germain to La Roche-sur-Yon, crashed in the finale Tour de France 2018 and was unable to contest the sprint.

German Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpeci), who has 14 Tour stage wins under his belt, suffered a puncture just under eight kilometres from the line and did not make it back to the front of the bunch in time. The final sprint was contested by a dozen riders after a massive pile-up split the bunch, with Gaviria and Australian Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb), suffering in the crash. Demare launched the sprint 250 metres from the line and Sagan jumped ahead of him with ease before holding off Colbrelli in the final metres.

Australian Richie Porte (BMC Racing) suffered a puncture and needed a wheel change, but made it across the line in the main group .As the peloton rolled out of Mouilleron-Saint-Germain rumours were swirling that the Australian had signed a multi-million dollar deal to move to Trek-Segafredo next season.

Published in Daily Times, July 9^th 2018.