SERAING, Belgium, (Reuters) – One of the most precocious talents in cycling, Peter Sagan came of age when he won the first stage of his first Tour de France yesterday.
At 22, the Slovakian had already impressed the cycling world since his two stage wins in Paris-Nice two years ago but the victory over 198 kms from Liege was career topping and probably the first of a long list of Tour successes.
Sagan, the youngest winner of a Tour de France stage since Lance Armstrong in 1993, was the only rider capable of taking the wheel of Swiss Fabian Cancellara when the prologue winner attacked in the steep last hill leading to the finish line.
One of the fastest sprinters in the bunch, the Slovakian powered to the line in front of the Olympic time trial champion, who retained his overall leader’s yellow jersey.
Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen, like Sagan more of a strong finisher than a pure sprinter, managed to catch up with the two escapees in the final kilometre, but had to be content with third on the line.
Today’s second stage takes the peloton from Vise to Tournai over 207.5 kilometres and should be a chance for pure sprinters to have the final say.