Peter Sagan: 'I thought this Tirreno stage was too hard for me'
Sagan admitted he didn't enjoy the stage as he managed to beat the climbers on a tough day at Tirreno-Adriatico


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
World champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) says that he thought the stage to Fermo in central Italy today was going to be too hard with its ramps of 22 per cent and uphill finish.
Instead, he poured himself into a win ahead of Grand Tour riders like Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), Geraint Thomas (Sky) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar).
Sagan surged from behind to pass Thomas and edged out Frenchman Thibaut Pinot in the hilltop village overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Afterwards, he pulled the brakes on his Specialized bike without celebration wheelie or any other showmanship.
"No," Sagan responded when asked if he was sure of winning. "I told Rafal Majka to don't do anything stupid for me because I might not have been up there for the finish. I thought it was too hard for me from what I saw."
They raced around Fermo in the final 30 kilometres. That loop, including the 1.5km section with 22 per cent gradients, gave Sagan a preview of the final that he would face.
He survived when others faded. Going into the final loop, the rainbow jersey was left with the GC contenders. It was impressive considering 27-year-old Sagan said that he "didn't like today's stage."
Geraint Thomas told Cycling Weekly that he was surprised that Sagan remained with the group, too.
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA
"Who knows what the climbers were thinking when they saw me with 500m to go," added Sagan. "I wasn't sure if they were thinking of attacking or not."
A journalist suggested that he "destroyed" the climbers with his surprise surge from behind. "I hope so," he responded. "It was last chance otherwise if they'd attacked me, I'd have been left behind on the road."
Sagan has not won three races so early in the season since 2013. His focus is on the cobbled Classics, winning the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix. Despite Sunday's uphill finish over the classification riders, he will not focus on the Ardennes Classics.
"I've always said that if I want to do Paris-Roubaix, it’s very difficult to do the second part of the Classics in the Ardennes. I want to do well at Flanders and Roubaix and perhaps if I get sick of them, I'll change my mind.
"It's also boring racing on the road all the time... I'm joking of course. All the Classics have a special history but you have to chose between the first or second part, you can't do both.
"I want to point out that if today was a one-day race, then perhaps I wouldn't have been up there," he added.
"All the climbers had raced hard yesterday, while I took it steady up to the finish on Terminillo. Stage races are different and so I perhaps felt fresher today."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
'They aren't just good, they're brilliant' - Meet Great Britain's junior super-talents
There’s a golden generation of women coming through the GB ranks
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Primož Roglič confirms he will leave Jumbo-Visma
Giro d'Italia champion does not reveal his destination for 2024 yet, though
By Adam Becket Published
-
Primož Roglič clinches Tirreno-Adriatico trident as Philipsen bags second stage win
Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsen edges out Dylan Groenewegen on final Tirreno stage as Roglič takes the title
By Peter Cossins Published
-
Lefevere suggests UCI is 'short of cash' after fining Alaphilippe
Soudal Quick-Step rails against the ruling body after his French team leader is penalised for removing his helmet while racing
By Peter Cossins Published
-
Primož Roglič snatches overall lead at Tirreno-Adriatico with stage five victory
Slovenian took his second stage in two days, outsprinting Giulio Ciccone and Tao Geoghegan Hart on the Sassotetto climb
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jasper Philipsen powers to stage three victory at Tirreno-Adriatico
After a lead out from Mathieu van der Poel, Philipsen outsprinted both Phil Bauhaus and Biniam Girmay to take the win
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tirreno-Adriatico 2023: Fabio Jakobsen wins stage two after late surge for the line
European champion put in huge final effort to outsprint Jasper Philipsen and Fernando Gaviria
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tirreno-Adriatico 2023: Filippo Ganna obliterates the field to win opening day time trial
Italian won the day with a stunning time of 12-28 ahead of Lennard Kämna in second
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tirreno-Adriatico 2023: Route and start list
All the key information ahead of this year's Race of the Two Seas
By Cycling Weekly Published
-
Primož Roglič to return to racing at Tirreno-Adriatico 'without pressure'
The Jumbo-Visma rider hasn't competed since abandoning last year's Vuelta a España
By Tom Davidson Published