Peter Sagan wins stage five of Tirreno-Adriatico
Last Updated: 12/03/17 5:11pm
Peter Sagan's late attack secured victory in the fifth stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico as Nairo Quintana kept the overall lead.
The world champion (Bora hansgrohe) accelerated away from a small breakaway group on the final climb to come home ahead of France's Thibaut Pinot (FDJ).
Pinot, second in the overall standings, cut Quintana's lead by six seconds but Movistar's Colombian still holds a 50-second advantage with two stages remaining.
Astana's Fabio Aru, who is expected to be among the leading contenders for May's Giro d'Italia, was forced out of the race with bronchitis.
A team statement read: "Unfortunately, Fabio Aru has suffered, even in the night, of a tracheobronchial acute bronchitis, with fever.
"Therefore, in accordance with management and medical staff of the Astana Pro Team, it was decided not to start the fifth stage of Tirreno-Adriatico today to allow him to recover from the illness."
Stage five result
1. Peter Sagan (Slovakia / BORA) 5:00:05"
2. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ) ST
3. Primoz Roglic (Slovenia / LottoNL)
4. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky)
5. Bauke Mollema (Netherlands / Trek)
Overall standings
1. Nairo Quintana (Colombia / Movistar) 21:34:51"
2. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ) +50"
3. Rohan Dennis (Australia / BMC Racing) +1:06"
4. Primoz Roglic (Slovenia / LottoNL) +1:15"
5. Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands / Sunweb) +1:19"
