Intro:

Slovakia's Peter Sagan wins Stage 3 of the Tour of Switzerland in Heiden on Monday (16th June), with Germany's Tony Martin retaining the leader's yellow jersey.

Script:

Three category two climbs and an uphill finish lay in store for the riders on stage three of the Tour of Switzerland on Monday, as the peloton wound its way through a 203 kilometre route.

A series of attacks took place throughout the stage, but none proved to be successful and it all boiled down to a sprint finish.

Italy's Valerio Agnoli suffered a painful fall near the finish, trying to keep up with the last remaining rider with ambitions of getting away from the peloton, Tosh Van Der Sande.

Agnoli appeared to be all right as the peloton passed him, and Van Der Sande was swept up inside the final five kilometres.

Michael Albasini, Rui Costa and BMC Racing duo Cadel Evans and Marcus Burghardt gathered near the front, with Slovakia's Peter Sagan.

Evans took up the pace with 400 metres to go, with Sagan close behind.

The Australian put in a huge effort, but was passed by Sagan, Albasini and Henao.

Albasini and Sagan appeared to come together, but Sagan muscled his way to the front and took the stage win after more than five hours and 22 minutes in the saddle.

Further back, Germany's Tony Martin finished safely in the bunch and retained his yellow jersey holding a lead of six seconds over Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands.