The Tinkoff rider triumphed at the end of the 186 kilometres leg between Blankenberge and Ardooie in Belgium after the peloton reeled in a five-man breakaway in the closing stages.

It looked like the lead group would produce the stage winner but as they jostled for position they slowed to a snail's pace and the lack of communication allowed the bunch to catch up.

Sagan, a sprint specialist who won the inaugural European Road Cycling Championships road race crown in Plumelec in France on Sunday (September 18) and the world title in Richmond last year, took full advantage as he finished in 4 hours 10min 36sec.

Danny van Poppel of The Netherlands came second with Nacer Bouhanni of France third, with both riders on the same time as Sagan.

This was Sagan's ninth stage win at an International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour race this season.

Australia's Rohan Dennis came home in the peloton to maintain the overall lead which he claimed after winning the stage two time trial yesterday.

The BMC rider has an overall time of 8:35:24, three seconds ahead of second placed Sagan.

Dutch rider Jos van Emden of LottoNL-Jumbo is third, five seconds adrift of Dennis.

The race is due to continue tomorrow with stage four, a 202km journey from Aalter to St-Pieters-Leeuw.