Peter Sagan won his first career stage at his first career Tour de France in the Stage 1 race from Liege to Seraing. Sagan beat out Fabian Cancellara and Edvald Boasson Hagen in the final kilometer sprint after the three broke away late from the peloton. The three riders were given the same time, meaning Cancellara will hold onto the yellow jersey as the Tour’s overall leader.
Tour de France Results 2012, Stage 1: Peter Sagan Wins Race From Liege To Seraing
Six riders -- Yohann Gene, Pablo Urtasun Perez, Maxime Bouet, Nicolas Edet, Anthony Delaplace, Michael Morkov -- led almost from the outset of the 198-kilometer race. The breakaway led by as many as much as 4:50 at the 42 km mark, and put up an impressive fight holding the lead until just eight kilometers to go.
The pace picked up inside of six kilometers to go, led by Belgian team Lotto-Belisol on the front end of the peloton. Cancellara just needed to remain in the peloton so he could earn the same time as the leaders and hold on to the maillot jaune. He initiated the late break from the peloton, however, appearing determined to earn another stage win. Sagan recognized the move immediately and stayed right on Cancellara’s wheel. Boasson Hagen snuck up to join them, setting up an exciting three-way sprint to the finish line.
Here are the top five finishers on Stage 1:
1. Peter Sagan (SVK) LIQ - 198km in 4h58’19”
2. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) RNT at same time
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) SKY at same time
4. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) BMC at same time
5. Bauke Mollema (NED) RAB at same time.
And the overall classification:
1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) RNT - 5h6’32”
2. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) SKY - 00’07”
3. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) OPQ - 00’07”
4. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC - 00’10”
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) SKY - 00’11”
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