Sagan strikes again in Oristano

Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) took his third stage win at the Giro di Sardegna in Oristano on Friday, showing he can beat the best sprinters as easily as he can out power the climbers on an uphill finish.

Sagan beat Damiano Cunego on Thursday in Lanusei thanks to a powerful surge up to the finish. In Oristano he used his speed to win by a bike length ahead of Manuel Belletti (Colnago–CSF Inox) and Roberto Ferrari (Androni Giocattoli). Ben Swift, riding for the Great Britain track team was fourth, ahead of Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD).

Thanks to his third stage victory, Sagan extended his overall race lead on Cunego to 14 seconds with just Saturday’s fifth 174km stage from Oristano to Gesturi remaining. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Androni Giocattoli) is third at 16 seconds and his teammate Emanuele Sella is fourth at 28 seconds.

“The best thing about this win is that I gained time on my direct rivals,” Sagan said.

“If my teammates hadn’t looked after me, it would have been difficult to find the space in the sprint. There was a lot of confusion and everyone wanted to be on the best wheel, that of my teammate Gaurnieri, who was following Oss. Petacchi moved in and then he went left and I went on the right I gave it everything so not to be beaten and so I won”.

Sagan is worried about Saturday’s stage finish.

“Tomorrow’s stage is dangerous, the finish is suited to attacks by the climbers. When you’ve only got a narrow lead you can never relax. I’ve got the advantage of strong team to guide me and help me: without their work I would have got the results I have.”

Long breakaway

The 174.2km stage took the race to the south-west of Sardinia and the sun was out as the riders tackled the mainly empty roads, with only the odd sheep to be wary of during the stage.

The early break began after just eight kilometres, with Arkimedes Arguelyes (Team Katusha) and Jonathan McCarty (Team Spidertech) quickly opening a seven-minute lead. The peloton let them go, covering the hillier early part of the race at an average of 34km/h. The two shared the sprints and climbing points during long day in the saddle, with McCarty proudly taking the green climber’s jersey in Oristano.

Liquigas-Cannondale lead the chase of the breakaways, with Acqua & Sapone also joining in, convinced their new sprinter Danilo Napolitano would have a chance in the sprint. The Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli team also joined the chase and the breakaway’s lead quickly melted away. It was just a minute with 25km to go and the two were eventually swept up and the peloton was all together with 10km to go.

The sprinters teams took charge at this point but it was Liquigas-Cannondale who again took charge at the right moment with three kilometres remaining. Great Britain used their team pursuiting skills to take over and set up Swift but Sagan got the better of them to win again.

Sagan pulled on the leader’s red, white and black jersey yet again and now faces just the final stage from Oristano to Gesturi on Saturday. A section of dirt road near the finish could play a key part in deciding the winner but Sagan seems to have the skills to win on any terrain.