Peter Sagan sprints to victory in Tirreno Adriatico Stage 3

A slight uphill gradient on the closing straight was always likely to play into Sagan's hands, and so it proved, with the Slovakian pulling clear off the final corner.

Team Sky's Elia Viviani crossed the line in second and Jurgen Roelandts of Lotto-Soudal was third.

BMC's Australian rider Rohan Dennis took the overall leader's jersey from team mate Greg Van Avermaet.

After suffering with illness in the build-up to the race, forcing him to pull out of the Strade Bianche last weekend, Sagan said he was back at full power.

"The season only starts now. I hope this is not the last victory," the Slovakian said after his first victory of the season. Saturday's stage 171-km stage four ends in Terminillo.

1. Peter Sagan (Slovakia / BORA) 4:51:59"

2. Elia Viviani (Italy / Team Sky) ST

3. Juergen Roelandts (Belgium / Lotto)

4. Sacha Modolo (Italy / UAE Team Emirates)

5. Luka Mezgec (Slovenia / Orica)

6. Rick Zabel (Germany / Katusha)

7. Andrea Palini (Italy / Androni Giocattoli)

8. Roberto Ferrari (Italy / UAE Team Emirates)

9. Georg Preidler (Austria / Sunweb)

10. Ramon Sinkeldam (Netherlands / Sunweb)