Peter Sagan claims overall lead at the Tour of Switzerland

The 26-year-old Slovak beat Swiss pair Michael Albasini and Silvan Dillier in a thrilling three-man sprint as the bunch closed in fast behind them.

Tinkoff Team star Sagan had trailed overnight leader Jurgen Roelandts of Belgium by three seconds going into the 192.6km (120 miles) ride north from Grosswangen to Rheinfelden on the Swiss-German border.

But with the peloton finishing three seconds behind the breakaway trio and Sagan claiming a 10-second bonus for the victory, he now leads the race by three seconds with six stages to go.

It was the 13th stage win of Sagan's career in this race and his fourth victory since taking the world road race title in Richmond, Virginia, last September.

He richly deserved this triumph after attacking from the main bunch on the final climb and then driving the remains of an earlier break all the way to the finish line.

On another wet day in Switzerland, Team Sky's Welsh star Geraint Thomas finished safely in the bunch and moved up to ninth on the general classification, 19 seconds behind Sagan. He is well placed with a lot more climbing to come later in the week.

Tuesday's stage will take the field from Rheinfelden to Champagne and should suit Sagan and the sprinters.