Peter Sagan got his Tour de France off to a great start when he finished second behind Marcel Kittel in the opening stage. The Slovakian was pleased with the outcome as it allowed him to get a head start on most of his rivals in the points competition and he admitted that Kittel had been the strongest rider on the day.

Peter Sagan is at the Tour de France with one big objective: to win the green jersey. Hence, it was no big disappointment for him to finish second behind Marcel Kittel in today's opening stage.

With points scored in the intermediate sprint, he is equal on points with Kittel who leads the competition by virtue of a better stage placing. However, Sagan took the first white jersey for best young rider and is happy with the outcome of the day.

"I started my sprint maybe too early but Kittel was too strong for me anyway," he said. "He beat me by the length of one bike. I'm happy with my result today. I've avoided crashing and I've scored points. The crash happened behind me, I didn't realize anything. It's sad but it's part of cycling, especially at the Tour de France.

"The public at the Tour de France is incredible but also dangerous, I wish people paid more attention… Now I have the white jersey, tomorrow the yellow? Whatever happens tomorrow, I'm here for winning the green jersey, that's all.

"Before looking at the result I'm happy that I didn't crash - this is the most important news looking at what happened on the final straight. Of course I'm glad also for the result. Kittel did a great sprint, he was the strongest, but I finished on the podium wearing the white jersey and I took important point for the green one, my goal at the Tour de France.

"Today's finish was really interesting with a short climb in the last few kilometres and there was not big chaos. Honestly, I started to sprint a little too early, but for today it is ok.

"About the stage of tomorrow, it could be a really good chance, but at the same time I expect a really tough finale. Anyway, I don't want to think too much about the future. The Tour is a race to live day by day, being concentrated just on the present".