Peter Sagan says 'there was no reason for us to risk our lives' after stage 19 stoppage
The Slovak has been outspoken in previous days of riders not receiving enough protection when faced with extreme weather conditions
Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) says that race organisers "have done their best" with the decision to stop stage 19 of the Tour de France 2019 as riders descended the Col de l'Iseran.
Egan Bernal (Ineos) and Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) were racing ahead off the front, the young Colombian taking out enough time to take the virtual race lead off Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) as he faltered on the climb behind.
However, due to a freak hailstorm and a landslide causing the route to become treacherous, the race was called off, with finish times for the stage being given at the top of the l'Iseran.
This meant Bernal had taken the yellow jersey, with Alaphilippe unable to try and take back time on the descent or the ascent to the summit finish at Tignes.
"It’s been a different race than what people expected and we have a new leader," Sagan said, "organisers have done their best. I’m not here to judge."
The Slovak has said that acting in the interest of rider safety was the right decision, saying there was a lot of mud on the road, making the wet conditions even more dangerous.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"There was no reason for us to risk our lives under the rain, the hail and with so much mud on the road," he said.
As the gruppetto approached the summit finish at the Galibier on stage 18 the storm clouds rolled in, and before that two blisteringly hot days in Nîmes and Pont du Gard, which led Sagan to criticise the CPA riders' union for not protecting the peloton in the extreme weather conditions.
"We already had a thunderstorm yesterday at the end of the race. Today it was going to be even worse conditions," Sagan said.
The three-time world champion is on track for a record-breaking seventh green jersey, currently holding an 85 point lead over Elia Viviani (Deceuninck - Quick-Step).
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
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Peter Sagan finishes second in last ever professional race
Former three time road world champion was the runner up in the Slovakian national MTB championships on Sunday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It's a miracle': The inside story of how Peter Sagan ended up on a team called Pierre Baguette
Six years after the dream first took root, Boris Horváth finally has Peter Sagan on his team
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Peter Sagan confident of return to bike in 15 days after latest heart procedure
Sagan recently underwent second operation in Italy to tackle heart rhythm related issues
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Peter Sagan undergoes second heart procedure, as Olympics nears
Return to training after first operation reveals further heart rhythm issues
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Peter Sagan undergoes heart procedure after experiencing ‘tachycardic episode’
Slovakian has ablation procedure in Italian hospital after heart rate exceeded 200 bpm during MTB race in Spain
By Tom Thewlis 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