Teams & Riders Peter Sagan discussion thread.

[benlondon]

He's actually a few months younger than Roglic but has done nothing in the last couple of years. Why?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Burnout. Just racing for money

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He's actually a few months younger than Roglic but has done nothing in the last couple of years. Why?

Sagan has a thread.

He seems to lack motivation and doesn't seem to enjoy himself anymore. Not everybody is the same. Why did Nibali quit while Valverde at that age still had to become world champion?

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Burned-out. He will focus on the MTB from now on. Probably because it's the only cycling discipline he still enjoys.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Sagan has a thread.

He seems to lack motivation and doesn't seem to enjoy himself anymore. Not everybody is the same. Why did Nibali quit while Valverde at that age still had to become world champion?

Bad example, but yeah.

 

[Billie]

He's actually a few months younger than Roglic but has done nothing in the last couple of years. Why?

Age doesn't matter. Roglic started late. Sagan started really early at top level. How many guys who won WT races in 2010 are still around?

 

[red_flanders]

It's a shame to see him (or rather not see him) go out this way. Motivation seems to have fallen off a cliff. Reminds me weight-wise of Lemond's last couple years.

Looking forward to see him riding MTB. Hope he gets fired up for that.

 

[Salvarani]

He had a big crash in the TdF, that probably was more severe than what was reported on at the time and affected him a lot in the aftermath. He had some turmoil in his personal life, which is not an easy thing to go through. He had an arrest as well, when he probably wasnt in a good head space.

He has also been a rider that has been affected greatly by covid and lost a lot of time in training, which has then affected his racing.

Add to that just getting older and not being one of the best riders in the peloton. That probably takes a toll, when you have been as good as Sagan. Having to come to terms with that.

You also have the pressure from sponsors, the team and fans to deliver.

When you add all the above in, it has probably been a very difficult time. Hope he could still end his career with some victorious in his, most likely, final season. Find some form again.

 

[Blanco]

Age doesn't matter. Roglic started late. Sagan started really early at top level. How many guys who won WT races in 2010 are still around?

Quite a few, to my surprise. I thought I will find less:
L.L.Sanchez, Gesink, Cavendish, Boasson Hagen, Haussler, Rui Costa, Mollema, Erviti.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Quite a few, to my surprise. I thought I will find less:
L.L.Sanchez, Gesink, Cavendish, Boasson Hagen, Haussler, Rui Costa, Mollema, Erviti.

In addition, it's not that unusual for the best riders to have 13+ years from their first to their last wins at that level. A few examples in the past 20 years:

Gilbert won Het Volk and stages at Dauphiné + Eneco Tour in 2006, and Roubaix and two Vuelta stages in 2019.
Nibali won Plouay in 2006 and a Tour stage in 2019.
Cavendish won two stages at Catalunya and one at Eneco Tour in 2006 and a UAE Tour + a Giro stage in 2022.
Cancellara won Romandie + Suisse stages in 2003 and Strade + Tirreno and Suisse stages + Olympic gold in 2016.
Valverde won two Vuelta stages in 2003 and a Dauphiné stage in 2021.

Now, it's not that odd for Sagan to be in decline at a relatively young age considering how good he already was by the time he entered his twenties, but that doesn't change the fact that, by the standards of generational talents, his longevity is average at best.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Quite a few, to my surprise. I thought I will find less:
L.L.Sanchez, Gesink, Cavendish, Boasson Hagen, Haussler, Rui Costa, Mollema, Erviti.

Van Avermaet won a Vuelta stage in 2008 iirc, but no WT race in 2010. Depends what you're looking for.

 

[Keram]

Sagan's last San Remo brings me lot of nostalgia. I hope he will show some decent performance. Probably not

Edit: And it is official now. Sagan never won San Remo

 

[movingtarget]

Quite a few, to my surprise. I thought I will find less:
L.L.Sanchez, Gesink, Cavendish, Boasson Hagen, Haussler, Rui Costa, Mollema, Erviti.

They are mostly domestiques now. Not every rider wants to finish their career as a domestique. Sagan could have retired two seasons ago and his career success would have been the same. Surely this will be Froome's last season unless he intends to do what Valverde did without figuring in the results. Not sure who would sign him when his current contract is up.

 

[DNP-Old]

They are mostly domestiques now. Not every rider wants to finish their career as a domestique. Sagan could have retired two seasons ago and his career success would have been the same. Surely this will be Froome's last season unless he intends to do what Valverde did without figuring in the results. Not sure who would sign him when his current contract is up.

Froome's contract runs until 2025, he isn't going anywhere.

 

[movingtarget]

Froome's contract runs until 2025, he isn't going anywhere.

Some team owners have more money than sense.

 

[DaLong]

Being a Sagan fan, one thing that hurts his legacy IMO is his lack of shepherding in the new wave. He rarely congratulates anyone, he doesn't train with or mentor anyone (besides maybe Ganna), he stays in his own social bubble and when he loses lately (often badly) he just goes back to his bus. I love the dude but I just don't get why he has to have his nose in the air all the time. It just appears from my perspective he can't get out of road cycling quick enough.

 

[fmk_RoI]

I love the dude but I just don't get why he has to have his nose in the air all the time.

Because he is and has always been a spoilt brat, indulged by the media (remember when he was the Philosopher King of the sport? Somehow I can't see My World ever being considered one of the more important philosophical tracts of the c21st). A talented rider, without a doubt. But as a person? Meh.

 

[Blanco]

Because he is and has always been a spoilt brat, indulged by the media (remember when he was the Philosopher King of the sport? Somehow I can't see My World ever being considered one of the more important philosophical tracts of the c21st). A talented rider, without a doubt. But as a person? Meh.

How wrong..

 

[fmk_RoI]

How wrong..

Come the day My World is declared one of the great philosophical tracts of the c21st, I promise to come back and eat humble pie. Until then ... I stand by what I said.

 

[Amazinmets87]

He should retire immediately ala Dumoulin as it's clear he no longer has the heart for racing. Unsure if that's feasible due to contractual obligations.

 

[ij74]

He should retire immediately ala Dumoulin as it's clear he no longer has the heart for racing. Unsure if that's feasible due to contractual obligations.

You should retire from watching cycling.

 

[RedheadDane]

He should retire immediately ala Dumoulin as it's clear he no longer has the heart for racing. Unsure if that's feasible due to contractual obligations.

He should extend his road career by a few months, so he can at least finish his last P-R on the velodrome.

 

[Amazinmets87]

He should extend his road career by a few months, so he can at least finish his last P-R on the velodrome.

I don't think he has the heart for training at this point.

 

[Netserk]

Ending his career in Glasgow would be quite natural. It should also be easier to join the break there.

 

[Oldermanish]

Sagan has a thread.

He seems to lack motivation and doesn't seem to enjoy himself anymore. Not everybody is the same. Why did Nibali quit while Valverde at that age still had to become world champion?

Agreed. His personal life aside he's fallen into the catagory of great riders that fade due to their own actions. It takes more specific training and focus to succeed when you're older and a marked rider, not less. Once you lose your sense of humor and honesty about the trade, you're done or should be.
I'll wish him well.