Teams & Riders Peter Sagan discussion thread.

[armchairclimber]

Considering recent bouts of covid and flu, as well as starting the week sick, that wasn't bad at all. Maybe he won't win so often as in the past but he'll be in the mix.

 

[Billie]

Yesterday was promising but now DNS. I think Giro stage win like last year will be best possible outcome this season

 

[carolina]

The guy has no luck. Let's hope it's not covid again.

 

[Screecher]

It most likely isn't covid, riders get tested frequently and there were no news of him being positive. He however might have some sort of viral or bacterial infection as he was reported to be sick last week. My guess is that he never fully recovered and the effort he put in yesterday caused his symptoms to reappear.

 

[Faserr]

Perhaps riders are more likely to get sick after getting Covid? Schachmann had to quit Paris-Nice because he isn feeling bad. He had Covid for 2 weeks, too.

 

[Salvarani]

Perhaps riders are more likely to get sick after getting Covid? Schachmann had to quit Paris-Nice because he isn feeling bad. He had Covid for 2 weeks, too.

Our "regular" diseases have not been as widespread during covid. Since many of us has worked from home and so on. A lot of us might have lost a bit of resistance to the regular viruses/bacterias that are around in normal every day life. Easier to get sick.

 

[ij74]

I guess his form isn´t that bad how many of you claim. Finishing fourth while having fever and stomach issues is pretty impressive if you imagine how it would be if he was healthy. Therefore I would not write off his chances at MSR. After all, Sagan finished right next to WVA during the last year´s race and don´t forget it was his first race after getting covid.

Btw, there were some rumours that Sagan might go to Milano-Torino to get some kilometres before MSR. Hopefully, we can see him at both of these Italian classics.

 

[Nirvana]

Yesterday was promising but now DNS. I think Giro stage win like last year will be best possible outcome this season

Total didn't even try to get the Giro wildcard, in may he'll probably have to go to Coupe de France races to point farm...

 

[Leinster]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1507048211827105800

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/TeamTotalEnrg/status/1507048211827105800/photo/1


If this was 2019, you’d really fancy his chances with those guys in the same team for the classics. Other than Turgis, it just all looks a bit yesterday now.

 

[Salvarani]

It seems he is done at WT-level...

He is 32 years old... cant see him getting back into shape. Not on this team.

If he wanted to have another great year or so, before he retired. He should have gone to a QS, Ineos, Jumbo or something. Taken a pay-cut with more bonuses.

He has had bad luck with injuries and sickness. Turbulence in his private life. That sure can affect your performances, but he also seems to have lost the hunger. He came into the pro peloton early, so maybe it is just natural. Either way feels like he just milks it now. If something doesnt happen, I cant see him riding past 2023.

Hope there is still something left for a few more wins, but right now he is a shadow of himself. He needs a confidence boost. Send him to a lower level race, so he might get the feeling back from winning. It is underrated what that could do and has done for other riders recently. Just look at a guy like Cavendish last year (but he also took the pay-cut and got on a great team).

 

[ij74]

It seems he is done at WT-level...

He is 32 years old... cant see him getting back into shape. Not on this team.

If he wanted to have another great year or so, before he retired. He should have gone to a QS, Ineos, Jumbo or something. Taken a pay-cut with more bonuses.

He has had bad luck with injuries and sickness. Turbulence in his private life. That sure can affect your performances, but he also seems to have lost the hunger. He came into the pro peloton early, so maybe it is just natural. Either way feels like he just milks it now. If something doesnt happen, I cant see him riding past 2023.

Hope there is still something left for a few more wins, but right now he is a shadow of himself. He needs a confidence boost. Send him to a lower level race, so he might get the feeling back from winning. It is underrated what that could do and has done for other riders recently. Just look at a guy like Cavendish last year (but he also took the pay-cut and got on a great team).

I think this is the main issue here because he should be able to get back into form as a 32-years old guy. Basically, Sagan has won everything he possibly could (except M-SR). I remember him saying "it´s not hard to win a race, much harder is to be at the top for several years," and he managed to do so for a decade. Naturally, he has not that hunger anymore. At least, not same like new guys who still have a lot to prove and win.

To address your last point about confidence boost, I truly do not think he needs that. The issue isn´t in his confidence but legs. Much better would be some longer training camp where he can get into shape and simultaneously lost some kilos.

Besides that, it would be better if he can set up specific objectives for the season and not to try catch everything – in that way, he´ll win nothing. Rather just focusing on a particular type of race.

 

[SafeBet]

To address your last point about confidence boost, I truly do not think he needs that.

Yeah I agree with that. He's still the same rider he used to be, incredible at surfing wheels and positioning himself in the bunch, but he lacks the legs to follow attacks (or attack himself).
Just watch yesterday's race: he was always in the very first part of the group until it exploded on the Taaienberg, then he disappeared.

 

[AlfaLum]

I think in any given sport it is just incredibly hard to stay at the top for a long time.

I also think that for a guy like Sagan, who has a certain character it is not very motivating to be just below the top.

So in that sense I think that his demise comes from two sides. He isn’t good enough anymore to be the real world class. And because he isn’t world class anymore it is hard to stay motivated for him to reach his best possible level.

Hopefully we will see him back at a level where he can be a good outsider for the biggest races again, but for me it is doubtful.

 

[Salvarani]

Confidence and being happy is a big part of performing, as it is as important to be in great shape.

It goes hand in hand.

 

[luckyboy]

Can anyone see what he is saying in this article?? It is locked

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1507692226029137926

View: https://twitter.com/hlnsport/status/1507692226029137926

 

[DaLong]

Yeah I agree with that. He's still the same rider he used to be, incredible at surfing wheels and positioning himself in the bunch, but he lacks the legs to follow attacks (or attack himself).
Just watch yesterday's race: he was always in the very first part of the group until it exploded on the Taaienberg, then he disappeared.

Good points. I was watching him closely and this E3 was a good barometer of where he's at. He was exposed a bit too much in the beginning, unsure why. He was in ideal position heading into the Taaienberg, then once WvA put down watts he went backwards. Surprisingly he got in when the Ineos led G2 and hung with them for a while albeit towards the back third of the pack. Once they began to shred the pack at about 65 km between the Boigneberg and the Eikenberg he just went backwards even further. No profound analysis here but I did think it showed he was gassed and may have actually been dropped on the flat due to the pace Ineos was setting, which was disappointing. It was fun seeing him on the front for a while I suppose.

Maybe I should just enjoy watching him participate and work for Turgis.

 

[ij74]

Can anyone see what he is saying in this article?? It is locked

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1507692226029137926

View: https://twitter.com/hlnsport/status/1507692226029137926

I also want to know so please anyone

 

[Bolder]

I think this is the main issue here because he should be able to get back into form as a 32-years old guy. Basically, Sagan has won everything he possibly could (except M-SR). I remember him saying "it´s not hard to win a race, much harder is to be at the top for several years," and he managed to do so for a decade. Naturally, he has not that hunger anymore. At least, not same like new guys who still have a lot to prove and win.

He went really hard for 8 solid years, mostly in the classics on weakish teams, but also finishing the Tour every year and holding form till the WCs. It might be that he just doesn't have anything left in the tank.

 

[Keram]

Today he dissapeared after first Kemmel. TDE seems solid though.

 

[Screecher]

Today he dissapeared after first Kemmel. TDE seems solid though.

His legs are really bad... i'm not even sure you can defend this with his recent illnesses.... something is very wrong with him. He was stronger last season.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

His legs are really bad... i'm not even sure you can defend this with his recent illnesses.... something is very wrong with him. He was stronger last season.

Looks too big

 

[Screecher]

Looks too big

Nope, he's always looked big and muscular. That's not it. But i kind of wish it was as simple as losing weight.

 

[ij74]

Nope, he's always looked big and muscular. That's not it. But i kind of wish it was as simple as losing weight.

Yep. Jakobsen looks as much muscular as Sagan and he was able to keep up with the today´s pace much longer.

 

[red_flanders]

Can anyone see what he is saying in this article?? It is locked

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1507692226029137926

View: https://twitter.com/hlnsport/status/1507692226029137926

Well, there is this: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/peter-sagan-i-think-quickstep-never-wanted-me/

Bizarre comments about Evenepoel. Wonder if something was lost in translation.

 

[red_flanders]

Nope, he's always looked big and muscular. That's not it. But i kind of wish it was as simple as losing weight.

Both things can be true. Looks very heavy to me this season, much more so than in the past.