Although he wore the green jersey on today’s stage, he was able to do so because the points classification leader Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack Nissan) was in the yellow jersey and couldn’t wear two. However Peter Sagan earned the jersey on his own merits in the finale today, placing seventh in the intermediate sprint, netting sixth in the big gallop to the line, and accumulating enough points to put him in the green jersey for real.
The Liquigas Cannondale rider now has 78 points, fifteen more than Cavendish’s 63 and an additional eight more than Cancellara.
“It 'a great satisfaction, and now I will endeavour to keep it for as long as possible,” he said.
Having clocked up victory yesterday in the first road race stage he has ridden in the Tour de France, he tried to make it two from two today but lacked a little experience.
“It is the first time that I have disputed a sprint in the Tour de France and I can see that it is different to everything I have experienced before,” he admitted. “The battle for places is a lot harder, and it’s very dangerous. I was very well positioned behind Greipel, and then suddenly I found myself much further back.
“I’ll have to learn to be much more aggressive in these situations.” However he takes a positive from the situation. “This is a very good experience.
“I tried today and that [experience] will serve me in another sprint. In any case, I love this green jersey, and I intend carrying it to Paris.”
Tomorrow’s stage to Boulogne sur Mer has a similar finale to yesterday’s stage, which Sagan won. It could well prove too tough for Cavendish, thus potentially giving Sagan a chance to pad his advantage. He’ll aim to do that and, if he has the legs, to scoop another stage win in this debut Tour of his.