Peter Sagan: Plenty of opportunities for Tinkoff despite Contador exit
Tinkoff will continue to fight on three fronts in the Tour de France, despite Alberto Contador abandoning the race
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Peter Sagan insists there is still all to play for at the Tour de France, with his Tinkoff team still in contention for three of the four jerseys.
Roman Kreuziger sits only 1-16 down on leader Chris Froome (Team Sky) after nine stages and is the team’s best hope of a top-10 finish after the departure of Alberto Contador on Sunday.
Rafal Majka is also in contention for the polka dot jersey, having gotten into three breakaways in nine days, and Sagan himself is the favourite to win the green jersey.
“You cannot predict how the race will go. Alberto was really bad after his crashes and was also sick in the last few days. He decided to go and recover, and prepare for his next races,” he said.
“For us it’s maybe more of a chance for the team. We still have Roman Kreuziger – he still feels good – and there are more opportunities.”
Peter Sagan's Tour de France bike
Sagan admits that team owner Oleg Tinkov is disappointed that Contador had to withdraw from the race, but says the Russian’s generosity makes it easy to get along with him.
Tinkov will withdraw his funding from the team at the end of the season, with the riders and staff in the process of finding new employment.
“I like Oleg because he’s very generous. He’s happy when things are going well. For now he’s a little bit disappointed about Alberto, but we are still a very strong team.,” he said.
“When we won the stage he was happy like I’ve never seen, and that night we had champagne…it was nice.
“If he’s angry he tells you what he has to tell you. He’s the owner of the team so he can tell you what he thinks.”
Sagan trails in Mark Cavendish in the green jersey competition by seven points heading into the second week of racing. Cavendish admits it will be almost impossible to beat the world champion in the classification because of his ability to pick up points in the mountain stages while the Manxman struggles in the gruppetto.
Sagan has won the points classification for each of the last four years since Cavendish’s only triumph in 2011.
Thank you for reading 10 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
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
'I'm studying maths – my brain needs something else besides cycling': Thomas Gloag on his hunger for learning on and off the bike
The 21-year-old Londoner and new Jumbo-Visma signing on rising to the challenge as he begins his WorldTour career
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Jess Roberts doubles up at British Track Championships as 19 year-old sprinter topples Olympian
Comeback queen wins her first solo national title in the scratch race
By Vern Pitt • 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
-
Tadej Pogačar down to three domestiques as Rafał Majka out of Tour de France
Majka's withdrawal with injury is a bitter blow for Pogačar leaving second-placed Slovenian with just three teammates
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Two riders face further Covid testing at Tour de France, top 20 not affected
150 riders cleared to begin second week of racing, two riders test results being sent for further examination
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Pogačar domestique George Bennett out of Tour de France after positive Covid test result
Rafał Majka also returns positive test but cleared to race by UCI medical team
By Tom Thewlis • Published