Slovakian Peter Sagan swung wide right in the final 100 yards and sped from fifth place to win the fifth stage of the Amgen Tour of California 2011.

Chris Horner remained the overall race leader Thursday.

Sagan, of the Liquiqas-Cannondale team, claimed two consecutive stages in last year's event. He won the 135.1-mile Seaside to Paso Robles road race in 5 hours, 16 minutes, 3 seconds.

Leigh Howard (HTC-Highroad) of Australia was second, and Ben Swift (Sky) of Britain, the opening stage winner, finished third, both in the same time as Sagan.

Horner (RadioShack), who took the race lead Wednesday with a solo uphill win, finished 11th in the main field and maintained his 1-minute, 15-second lead over teammate and fellow American Levi Leipheimer.