Sagan continues dream debut with second Paris-Nice stage win

SLOVAKIA'S Peter Sagan won the fifth stage of the Paris-Nice for Liquigas after a brave dash away from the peloton in the final 2km in Aix-en-Provence.

ROOKIE SEASON: Liquigas' Peter Sagan collects his second stage win in the Paris-Nice in his neoprofessional season

The 20-year old pulled away on a minor incline with 1.5km remaining and while the peloton closed him down in the final 500m, Sagan held on to clinch victory ahead of Lampre's Mirco Lorenzetto and Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandro Valverde.

Victory capped a breakthrough week for Sagan, who also won the third stage of the Paris-Nice and leads the points competition in his debut professional season.

Tour de France champion Alberto Contador finished within the peloton in tenth and sits 20 seconds ahead of Vuelta a Espana champion Valverde in second.

Liquigas' Roman Kreuziger remains in third, another 5 secs behind, with two stages remaining.

Meanwhile, Liquigas also claimed victory in the third stage of the Tirreno - Adriatico where Italy's Daniele Bennati sprinted his way to a stage win and lead of the general classification.

The 29-year old had been denied victory by Tom Boonen in the dash for the line in Thursday's second stage but was determined not to be overhauled on Friday, as he won by a bike length from Lampre's Alessandro Petacchi and HTC-Columbia's Bernhard Eisel.

Bennati now leads overall by 4 seconds from Milram's Linus Gerdemann and Quick Step rider Boonen.

Saturday's fourth stage is 243km from San Gemini to Chieti.