Peter Sagan happy with Tour despite 'different role' at Tinkoff-Saxo
Slovakian content with how things went at the 2015 Tour de France, despite missing out on a stage win


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.
The wait goes on for Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo). The now four-time green jersey winner will continue to hunt for a first stage win at the Tour de France since 2013, but despite that, said he was content with his performance after the conclusion of the Tour in Paris on Sunday night.
The Slovakian champion continued his remarkable consistency in the race, finishing second no less than five times. And that, coupled with some extraordinary breakaway performances, saw him dominate the green jersey points competition for another year, in spite of the organisers changing the rules to make it a closer competition.
>>> Watch: Peter Sagan’s amazing descent of the Col de Manse
But Sagan has also found himself in an unusual role at this Tour. Still only 25, he has become used to leading a team built around him in the hunt for stage wins, but this year was part of a team geared towards securing Alberto Contador an historic Giro d'Italia/Tour double.
It's something that looked like it would hamper his chances for wins, despite being so good at going it alone. However, Sagan says he has benefitted from the experience of riding alongside Contador, helping his team leader, including giving him his bike after a crash on the stage to Pra Loup.
“I am very happy because this year was a very hard fight from the first stages," Sagan said after the final podium ceremonies.
"My role in the team was different from previous years. I’m very happy that I haven’t crashed and that I can make it here in the green jersey - it’s a special feeling for me.
"It has been a different Tour for me but also a very big experience to ride with Alberto Contador, he is a big champion and I’ve also had a lot of fun in this year’s Tour on the road and together with my teammates.”
You wouldn't realise the weight of expectation on Sagan's shoulders when you see the way he carries himself. Generally light-hearted an joking around, even after his lone chase for Ruben Plaza on stage 16, which saw him take another second place, he was still seemingly positive as he explained his mysterious chest-thumping as he crossed the finish line.
But the pressure for results is seemingly as from inside the team than out. Sagan commands a hefty wage, and after a disappointing Classics season earlier this year, team owner Oleg Tinkov had already discussed cutting his wages.
Sagan's first season with the super-team will be a steep learning curve, but he remained optimistic about what he could take from another Tour of green dominance, if not a stage win.
“For sure it was a very big fight from the start and I knew that it wasn’t easy," he said on fighting it out in bunch sprints. "There was less pressure on me to create individual results but I also had a different role.
"But the pressure overall has been high, we have been very concentrated but it has been a big experience for me.
"I’ve tried to win stages, but it was not easy. I think I can be satisfied, I have been very aggressive and I have the green jersey”
Best of the 2015 Tour de France
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!
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
-
Cycling keeps you fit but are you doing enough to stay healthy?
It’s possible to be very fit in one specific way, for example being fast on a bike, while being unhealthy in other ways
By Joe Laverick Published
-
Dr Hutch: Motor-doping isn't rife, there's no way cyclists would use it discreetly enough
Some fans think that motor-doping is rife, but Cycling Weekly's columnist Dr Hutch is having none of it
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
In celebration of Peter Sagan, cycling's rock and roll frontman
As the three-time world champion is set to call time on his career in the WorldTour at the end of 2023, we thought we would take a look back at the glory days
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert moots building gravel world championships into 2023 programme
Belgian rider says gravel racing has a ‘great future’ as he considers worlds participation next year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Peter Sagan to ride the UCI Gravel World Championships to ‘give back to the people’
‘I still have much more to give’ says Sagan on the decision to head to Italy for the competition
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Peter Sagan has day to forget at E-MTB Worlds, crashing twice
The Slovakian came off his bike and finished in 16th
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Peter Sagan set to compete in the electric mountain bike World Championships
TotalEnergies rider will compete in competition in Les Gets, France in late-August
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Van der Poel not targeting green jersey at Tour de France
Jasper Philipsen will be the main sprinter at Alpecin-Fenix
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It's nice to be back': Peter Sagan downplays his first WorldTour win in over a year
Slovakian takes his maiden win for TotalEnergies, his first in ninth month, but his 18th Tour de Suisse stage
By Adam Becket Published
-
Peter Sagan unlikely to ride Paris-Roubaix after illness
Former winner also missed Tour of Flanders after health problems
By Adam Becket Published