The Slovakian star had been hoping to emulate sprint rival Mark Cavendish in assuming the overall lead at the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race, with the Briton having done so for the first time yesterday at Utah Beach.

Due to the uphill finish at the end of the 182 kilometres route from Saint-Lô to Cherbourg-Octeville, Sagan had been tipped as a potential winner before the stage, with his fellow sprinters likely to be dropped on the final climb.

His hopes had looked at risk after Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven, the sole survivor of the day’s breakaway, which also contained Germany’s Paul Voss, Italy’s Cesare Benedetti and Norway’s Vegard Breen, remained clear in the closing three kilometres.

The Belgian held nearly a two minute advantage heading into the final climb, but the two kilometre long ascent saw his lead evaporate as the Tinkoff team attempted to set up for Sagan.

However it came at the cost of their own team leader Alberto Contador, with the Spaniard dropping out of the back of the main field as he continued to suffer from injuries sustained in a crash yesterday.

The relentless pace also saw sprinters Cavendish and Germany’s Marcel Kittel lose contact, while Australia’s Richie Porte may have seen his general classification hopes drift away, after a puncture at a crucial moment saw him cut adrift.

Sagan eventually made contact with Stuyven with 500 metres left of the stage, before outsprinting the rising French star and Tour of California winner Julian Alaphilippe to secure victory in a time of 4hr, 20min and 51sec.

“I'm very surprised I won, I thought there were still two guys in the front,” Sagan admitted afterwards.

“Only at the very end I realized we were sprinting for victory.

“Julian Alaphilippe was very close to me at the end but I beat him.

“I'm in yellow for the first time, it's a very nice jersey, this is something special for sure.”

Sagan lies eight seconds clear of Alaphilippe in the general classification, with Spain’s Alejandro Valverde lying a further two seconds back.

Defending champion Chris Froome and the Briton’s closest rival Nairo Quintana of Colombia both lie 14 seconds behind the world champion.

Crucially, the duo have opened up a 48 second advantage over two-time winner Contador, while Porte is already 1:45 down in the race for the overall victory.

A sprint finish is expected at the conclusion of tomorrow’s 223km stage from Granville to Angers.