Cycling: Peter Sagan Wins Again in Paris-Nice, Contador Retains Yellow

Contador blew the field to pieces in stage 4, with Sagan finishing well down in 20th, 58 seconds behind Contador. Only Valverde, Sammy Sanchez and Rodriguez were near the same level as Contador, but Rodriguez pushed himself too hard and dropped 18 seconds, with the other two only dropping ten seconds.

But come stage 5 the stage was set for another Peter Sagan special, with a short sharp climb just before the finish. When Le Mevel attacked, Sagan just followed his wheel presuming that from this attack a collection of contenders would form. To his surprise, when he looked around for the others they were nowhere to be seen.

So Sagan kicked and blasted clear of the lead group. Then came a response from the main contenders who swept up Le Mevel on the descent. Sagan was clearly suffering trying to hold an advantage. He was alternating his time between gritting his teeth looking down suffering and looking backwards to see when he would be swept up. But he somehow managed to hold on before collapsing once he crossed the line.

This is a man who desperately wants to win and won't let his body tell him not to. In the words of Jens Voigt, "I say, Shut up, legs! Do what I tell you to do."

Contador still holds the overall lead by 20 seconds over Alejandro Valverde, with Sagan 8th, 42 seconds behind.