Sagan wins fifth stage, Alaphilippe retains lead

Sagan kept enough strength in reserve in the hills of Alsace to win fifth stage of Tour de France.

COLMAR (AFP) - Slovakia s Peter Sagan kept enough strength in reserve in the hills of Alsace to win a reduced bunch sprint for his 12th overall Tour de France stage win on Wednesday.

France s Julian Alaphilippe held onto the leader s yellow jersey and even had a tilt at the stage win with a downhill charge after the final climb.

Alaphilippe, who was cheered throughout by French fans again Wednesday, will start leader for Thursday s first real mountain test that concludes with a tough summit finish in the Vosges.

"My legs are killing me," said Alaphilippe, who took the overall lead on Monday with a gun-slinging offensive from 15 kilometres.

"Tomorrow is going to be a huge test, for me and everyone," said the 27-year-old former soldier.

Sagan s win will be popular with armchair fans as the charismatic former triple world champion, and six-time green sprint jersey winner, had had two near misses so far.

"I try every day, and then one day you get it," said the burly Sagan.

"I suffered a bit in the climbs. But I had to get into the sprint, I was patient. I m 47 points ahead in the race for the green jersey now."

Sagan turned on the power from 150 metres out to beat pre-race favourites including Jumbo Visma s Wout van Aert, a breakout star of the race who came second while Italy s Matteo Trentin came third.

Van Aert, riding in his debut Tour since converting from cyclo-cross, closed in to within 14 seconds of the overall lead and maintains his under-25 s white jersey as the buzz around him continues to grow.

Defending champion Geraint Thomas and his Team Ineos co-captain Egan Bernal finished safely in the pack in Colmar after a stage that passed through vineyards and villages of picturesque half-timbered houses.

Thomas was typically dry when asked what he expected as the peloton headed off in the morning, saying: "I m expecting the worst and hoping for the best."

The 2019 Tour, with little time-trialling and mountains galore, should prove a climbers  dream.

On Wednesday, the specialist climbers and those who can keep up in the hills were given a chance to unsheathe their swords on the slopes below the medieval Koenigsberg Chateau, the first category two climb of the Tour.

Welshman Thomas looked relaxed after the race.

"Tomorrow s the big day, that s where it all starts really," the 33-year-old said.

What Thomas describes as  the big day  is a seven mountain slog culminating in a summit finish at La Planche des Belles Filles where four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome enjoyed a breakout win in 2012.