Peter Sagan may ride MTB at the Olympics after wildcard place is requested

Peter Sagan admits he's got little chance of winning the Olympic Games road race, but he could enter the cross-country mountain bike event after the Slovakian Cycling Association (SZC) applied for a wildcard.

According to news website aktualne.sk the SZC will probably give their one official spot to Michal Lami or Martin Haring, the highest ranked riders, but have asked that Sagan be considered if some countries don't use their allocated spots.

"We sent an application specifically for Peter Sagan to be the second a rider for Slovakia," said John Žilovec, chairman of the SZC

"Should Peter be present in Rio, it would be a benefit to all of cycling, not only in Slovakia. However, it depends on the terms of the UCI.

"The request for a free card was only in the name of Peter Sagan."

Sagan admitted the mountainous road race course wouldn't suit his abilities after a test ride after the Tour de San Luis in January.

He entered a couple of MTB events after the Classics season, having to push to the end of his first race because of a crash.

The SZC will find out whether their application for Sagan to fill an unused quota place on June 30.