Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) finished fifth on day three in the Tour de France to take the points-classification lead as he seeks to claim a seventh green jersey.
Sagan rode the third stage of the French grand with the green jersey on because he was in the second position of the Points classification behind Mike Teunissen, who was wearing the yellow jersey. But after taking enough points to climb to the top of that classification, he stepped on the final podium to receive the special jersey.
“I’m happy to be in green. I can’t complain. Now I’ll try to keep it. I want to keep it,” Sagan said. “I felt good today. It’s OK not to win. One day can be good and then next bad. I didn’t crash, I was fifth, so I can’t complain.
“Julian is strong. I thought he’d save his effort fort the last climb but well, he attacked us and surprised everyone. He did a nice race.
“It was a very, very hard stage today, 215km long, with very high speed from the start and four categorised climbs. The last two were really tough while the finishing ramp, although not categorised, was tough after a long and strenuous day in the saddle.”
“I’m looking forward to the next stages, but I’m taking it day by day… Day by day. The Tour de France is still long.”
