Sagan claims opening stage

The Slovakian beat local favourite Fabian Cancellara by four seconds on the 7.3 kilometre stage around Lugano in a blistering time of nine minutes and 43 seconds.

Sagan's Liquigas-Cannondale team-mate Moreno Moder added to the team's great day by coming in seven seconds behind him in third place.

Defending champion Levi Leipheimer of Omega Pharma-Quickstep ended up 41 seconds behind the pace, finishing 57th fastest.

The 2012 Tour de Suisse continues on Sunday and concludes on Sunday week.

1. Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Liquigas) 9:43"

2. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland / RadioShack) +4"

3. Moreno Moser (Italy / Liquigas) +7"

4. Martin Elmiger (Switzerland / AG2R) +11"

5. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Sweden / Astana) +15"

6. Michael Albasini (Switzerland / Orica) +17"

7. Dario Cataldo (Italy / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +18"

8. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Astana) +19"

9. Tom-Jelte Slagter (Netherlands / Rabobank) +20"

10. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / RadioShack) +22"

11. Thomas Loefkvist (Sweden / Team Sky)

12. Maxime Monfort (Belgium / RadioShack) +23"

13. Laurens ten Dam (Netherlands / Rabobank)

14. Marco Marcato (Italy / Vacansoleil)

15. Cameron Meyer (Australia / Orica)

16. Steven Cummings (Britain / BMC Racing) +24"

17. Brent Bookwalter (U.S. / BMC Racing)

18. Wout Poels (Netherlands / Vacansoleil) +25"

19. Peter Velits (Slovakia / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step)

20. Gorka Izagirre (Spain / Euskaltel)