In the second half of the past decade, he was in full force. Opponents knew what he was capable of, but they had no answer to the performances of the lightning fast Slovak. Mainly because of this, he was able to perform what no cyclist in the 200-year history of this sport has been able to do.
Photo: ČTK / AP / Cornelius Poppe
Peter Sagan after winning his third World Championship title at the 2017 World Championships in Bergen.
Peter Sagan remains the only driver to win three consecutive World Championship mass start races. On Sunday, he will get another chance and if he succeeds, he will create another historical record.
At the age of 33, he says goodbye to road cycling and is not among the top favorites at the championship in Glasgow. Nevertheless, in the end, as always, it is true that the Žilina native is not liked to be written off.
Read more What has always interested Sagan? To keep the wheels turning. We won’t have such a cyclist for 100 years
After all, he knows how to win at the World Cup better than anyone else.
Richmond 2015
He didn’t do well that year. He didn’t win any of the monumental classics that were his big goal every season.
At the Tour de France, he earned the nickname “forever second”. Although he defended his title in the points competition, the lack of a stage triumph hurt him.
Photo: Profimedia
08. Sagan History Tour Peter Sagan.
He postponed the best performance of the season to America. He also enjoyed great popularity in the country thanks to his collaboration with the bike manufacturer Specialized and was the biggest favorite for the fans there.
The Europeans didn’t think so. They relied on stronger and more numerous teams to push their leaders to gold.
However, Sagan showed a great feeling for the right moment and precisely determined tactics. He attacked in a steep climb three kilometers before the tape and reached the finish line alone.
Read more First win of the season! Sagan dominated the criterium in Switzerland, he also beat Pogačar
“The monster from Slovakia dominated the WC!” read the headline of the French daily L’Equipe. The home team was excited, their favorite won.
“America was cheering for him. In the last corner, people literally jumped out of their skin. They took it as if the American didn’t win, it must be Sagan,” recalled Peter Privara, head of Slovak cycling.
The opponents’ reactions were best summed up by the words of John Degenkolb.
The German all-rounder was in great form, during the season he won the monuments Milan – San Remo and Paris – Roubaix, and he grinded his teeth for gold in Richmond. However, even he was not enough for the rival from under the Tatras.
“Everyone expected a similar attack from Sagan, we were all ready for it. It was no surprise. However, no one was able to react and catch up with him. A famous performance,” praised the Slovak.
Dauha 2016
Sagan enjoyed the growing interest and season in the rainbow jersey. In order to improve his mood, he jumped to Brazil, where he started at the Olympics in the discipline he had loved since childhood – mountain biking.
In Doha, he was not only expected to defend his title, but also the sweltering Qatari heat and excited opponents who were planning a revenge for Richmond.
2023-08-04 03:33:45
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