Tour de France Stage 5: Peter Sagan wins, Greg Van Avermaet still in yellow

Peter Sagan has consolidated his lead in the points classification of the Tour de France with victory following a tough finish to  today's Stage 5 in Quimper.

Today’s stage had been billed as a Breton version of Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and the finale did not disappoint as some of the biggest names in the sport battled it out for the stage win.

Earlier in the 203-kilometre stage from Lorient, Sylvain Chavanel of Direct Energie - riding a record 18th Tour de France - had once again attacked solo, staking his claim to the super-combativity prize in what may well be his final particpation in the race.

The fight to be first across the line exploded in the final kilometre, with the first attack came from former world champion – and one of only two men to have won all three Ardennes Classics in the same season – Philippe Gilbert of Quick Step Floors.

He was overhauled by BMC Racing’s Greg Van Avermaet, but there was to be no win in the yellow jersey for the Olympic champion.

Instead, it was points classification leader Sagan of Bora-Hansgrohe who proved strongest, holding off a late challenge from Bahrian-Merida’s Sonny Colbrelli, the world champion taking his second stage win of the race.

Van Avermaet is now 2 seconds ahead of team mate Tejay van Garderen on the General Classification, while Gilbert’s finish-line bonus seconds see him move third overall ahead of Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas.