Sagan is on fast track at Laguna Seca

The world champion and one of the fastest finishers in pro cycling successfully navigated two brutal climbs near the end of Wednesday’s stage, then outsprinted Greg Van Avermaet and Nathan Haas at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for his second victory in the first four stages.

BMC Racing quickly pulled him back, and then Sagan — knowing he had the legs to win a sprint finish — began keeping an eye on breakaway attempts.

Twice he single-handedly nailed back attacks on the final climb, where the grade reached 14 percent, and that kept things together enough for him to win his record-extending 15th stage in California.

Alaphilippe, who won the previous day’s climb up Gibraltar Road, earned an early 3-second time bonus to push the Frenchman’s lead to 22 seconds over American rider Peter Stetina.

A short, steep climb near the finish could help to shape the overall race lead.

The four-stage women’s Tour of California begins Thursday with a 72-mile loop of Lake Tahoe that finishes at the same ski resort as the men’s stage.

Among the favorites will be Olympic gold medalist Marianne Vos, reigning U.S. champion Megan Guarnier and her teammate, Evelyn Stevens.