Sagan doesn’t just run away from the battlefield

Ľudovít Lučanič
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today 09:20
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For the second time in his career, Peter Sagan will not finish in the Tour de France. The owner of seven green jerseys for winning the scoring competition was prevented in 2017 from traveling to Paris by unintentional disqualification for an offense committed by someone else. The judges and the International Cycling Union’s excuse did not erase the blow from his heart and mind on the way to Erik Zabel’s then possible sixth success and record break.

For the second time this year, Sagan will be missing in Paris. After the success associated with winning a cyclamen jersey at the Giro d’Italia, he again had big plans in his jubilee tenth Tour. Traditionally, as in the last period every year at this event. But this time his injury was marked by an injury. The fall in the third stage in Pontivy on the road at least behind the podium marked his right knee.

A Slovak who never gives up just for no reason did not believe that this would be the beginning of his end. The pain was handled by the Žilina native much better than many rivals, and it seemed that although the fight for the green jersey in the second half will be more difficult than usual, Sagan will not just give up. However, the spurt came in Valencia in a flat stage under the alpine giants and a sore knee hit the handlebars, which made a final decision.

The Bora-hansgrohe cyclist still tried, but the frightening feelings on the Mont Ventoux climbs, reminiscent of a knife being kicked in the knee, took the Slovaks the last drop of hope. Hope, even with honor, to come all the way to Paris and try at least some partial success at the right time.

The use of antibiotics and the mandatory several days of rest shortly before the Tokyo Olympics are not the best news, but they show that in the case of Petr Sagan, it was not a calculation at a time when he was not doing as he wanted. He certainly wasn’t a role model for Mathieu van der Poel, who waved to the Tour after losing his yellow T-shirt and rushing to Tokyo.

Peter Sagan is a warrior, a tough guy who doesn’t just leave the battlefield!