Peter Sagan: 2016 success just down to 'good luck'

Peter Sagan has said that his successful year in the world champion’s rainbow jersey has been down to “good luck”.

Since Sagan first became world champion in Richmond in 2015 he has claimed his first Monument winning the Tour of Flanders, won the Tour de France green jersey competition for a fifth time and racked up a host of other victories.

This followed on from a year in which he frequently came up short including finishing fourth in the Tour of Flanders and Milan-San Remo.

When asked what had changed he said: “I think in the race it is good luck.

“Next year if I go slow everyone will say it is a bad year and stuff like that. The race schedule is the same.

"I won maybe not so much but maybe some races that are more important such as Flanders, Tour de France [stages[ or World Championships again... I had maybe just good luck.”

Sagan and his new team, Bora-Hansgrohe, have yet to decide his race programme for 2017 but he said he will likely race the major Classics such as Flanders and Paris-Roubaix and then again target the green jersey at the Tour de France.

“After that we will see,” he added.

The recently crowned world champion also said that he was still surprised to win the flat sprint in Doha earlier this month.

“It’s very special still I cannot believe that it’s a big surprise to me I never thought I could win the World Championship again.”

Sagan wrapped up his season with a victory at the Saitama Criterium exhibition race in Japan in a sprint beating Sho Hatsuyuma (Bridgestone-Anchor) and Chris Froome (Sky).