Peter Sagan, the biggest star of the Joint Championship of the Slovak and Czech Republic, spoke to journalists on the eve of the road race with a mass start. Sagan, who is participating in his last season as a professional cyclist, discussed his tactics for the race and his plans for the rest of the season.
Sagan expressed his happiness at being able to return to Slovakia after a long time. He had recently attended an event with the TotalEnergies team in Paris before coming to Slovakia to defend his title as the champion of Slovakia. He acknowledged the high expectations from fans and expressed his desire to succeed in the race.
One of the challenges Sagan faces in the race is the lack of team support. He used to have support from his brother, Michal Kolár, or Erik Baška, but now he is racing alone. Despite this, Sagan remains focused and plans to keep an eye on the Slovak competitors while conserving his energy for the end of the race.
Sagan admitted that it is difficult to predict how the race will develop, especially since some teams have a significant advantage in terms of the number of competitors. As a lone competitor, controlling the race will be challenging for Sagan, especially in a joint race with Czech cyclists. He identified Matúš Štoček as his biggest rival among the individuals.
In terms of his racing priorities for the year, Sagan mentioned winning the title of champion of Slovakia as his first goal. He also aims to perform well in the Tour de France and complete the race without any injuries. After the Tour de France, Sagan will focus on the World Championship road race before turning his attention to mountain biking. His ultimate goal is to nominate himself for the Olympics in Paris next year, although he acknowledges the difficulties he may face due to his lack of proper training on a mountain bike.
As an 11-time participant and 7-time holder of the green jersey in the Tour de France, Sagan expressed his determination to do his best and win a stage in the race. However, he will assess whether it makes sense to fight for the green jersey after a few stages, considering the demanding nature of this year’s Tour. Sagan also mentioned the possibility of participating in the Vuelta, influenced by TotalEnergies becoming the main sponsor of the race.
Despite the approaching end of his professional career, Sagan remains grateful for all the experiences and victories he has had with the support of his family and friends. He is glad that his career is coming to an end and looks forward to enjoying his last year more. Sagan acknowledged that winning is not easy and that it gets harder as the years go by. He believes the best period of his career is probably behind him and feels it is the right time to retire.
Peter Sagan is a cycling legend with 121 professional victories to his name. His last victory was in last year’s Slovak championship. As he prepares for the road race in the Joint Championship, fans eagerly await to see if Sagan can add another victory to his impressive record.
What are Peter Sagan’s thoughts and considerations regarding retirement from professional cycling
A difficult task for Sagan. However, he remains confident in his abilities and believes that anything is possible in cycling.
When asked about his plans for the rest of the season, Sagan revealed that he will focus on preparing for the upcoming World Championships in Belgium. He acknowledges that it is a challenging course but is determined to give it his all and compete at the highest level. Sagan also mentioned that he will participate in a few other races leading up to the World Championships to fine-tune his form and tactics.
As for retirement, Sagan admitted that he is still unsure about his future plans. While he plans to step away from professional cycling at the end of this season, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of returning to the sport in a different capacity. Sagan expressed his love for cycling and his gratitude for the opportunities it has given him.
In conclusion, Peter Sagan is looking forward to the road race with a mass start in the Joint Championship of the Slovak and Czech Republic. Despite the lack of team support, he remains focused and determined to succeed. He will then shift his focus towards the World Championships, aiming to perform at his best. While retirement is on the horizon, Sagan’s love for cycling and potential return to the sport in the future leave his fans hopeful for more exciting moments to come.
“Excited to see what the cycling legend, Peter Sagan, has in store for his final season! His tactical mastery and strategic plans will surely add more sparkle to an already illustrious career. Wishing him the best as he prepares for the ultimate lap on this incredible journey.”