One of these days a French team hiring ageing declining stars (AG2R Van Avermaet, Cofidis Viviani, Arkea Quintana, TotalEnergies Sagan) will work out...
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Total is the worst of all, they even turned Terpstra from classics dominant force to retired rider from a year to another.
And maybe one of them will realise it's no longer 1981, and things have moved on......
Since he is, or at least was, an ambassador for Israel Cycling Academy, I though ISN might have shown interest. Dan Martin is out of contract but then again there's the huge wage bill of Froome.
Consisting of well-known names, such as Sagan, Froome, Lutsenko, Hodeg, Hindley, Pozzovivo or Bol, the stage race Tour of Slovakia has been starting with today´s prologue. The full starlist and all stages can be found on this link.
After a long time, Sagan has a realistic chance to be an overall leader after the final stage. Since the race profile is quite flat, with smaller and short hills, it should suits him well. Let´s see if he can keep up the momentum from the Benelux Tour, where he was showing flashes of his older form, but could not capitalize it in the final metres of stages. I believe the race like this is optimal to taste victory, and eventually, to gain some confidence towards the Worlds and P-R.
After a long time, Sagan has a realistic chance to be an overall leader after the final stage. Since the race profile is quite flat, with smaller and short hills, it should suits him well. Let´s see if he can keep up the momentum from the Benelux Tour, where he was showing flashes of his older form, but could not capitalize it in the final metres of stages. I believe the race like this is optimal to taste victory, and eventually, to gain some confidence towards the Worlds and P-R.
It's the first time he's racing in Slovakia (apart from the NC)
I dont know how are bonus in the race.
They did a route for him, so he has a good oportunity.
But Quick has strong sprinters, so he has a do hard the climbs and control thee race with his team, if he wants to get overall.
Time bonuses for the best three in the finish should be 10, 6 and 4 seconds. The top three riders who pass through intermediate sprint sections will be awarded with 3, 2 and one second.
Today Quick showed more powerfull than Bora.
He was closed at the end, but I think he had the legs to win today.
Anyway he will try something different to go with Hodeg and his powerfulls helpers in the sprint if he want to win his home s race.
Tomorrow the climb is not far fromn the end, but is really soft. Anyway it has some section at about 9 % where an sprinter could suffer more than today climb, clearly harder in average, but more regular and shorter.
He was closed at the end, but I think he had the legs to win today.
Anyway he will try something different to go with Hodeg and his powerfulls helpers in the sprint if he want to win his home s race.
Tomorrow the climb is not far fromn the end, but is really soft. Anyway it has some section at about 9 % where an sprinter could suffer more than today climb, clearly harder in average, but more regular and shorter.
I have to say I'm getting quite hot on the idea of Sagan becoming World Champion for the fourth time.
I know he hasn't shown much to grant such expectations but if the Belgians really do keep the race quite closed to set-up a small bunch sprint for Van Aert, Sagan should be the second-fastest man there. And then stranger things would have happened before in the history of cycling.
I know he doesn't have a team (and yes, RhD, I know he is not the only participant from Slovakia) but if he just keeps himself in the shadows like in Richmond and Bergen, that shouldn't be too much of an issue here, when the strongest team want to keep things together for a sprint.
I have been a bit (a lot) worried about his climbing the past couple of years, but today he was the best in Slovakia on the hills, and in the Benelux Tour he wasn't too bad on the cobbled hills, either, and his shape should only be going one way at the moment. So unless it becomes a really, really tough race, he will feature in the final selection, I think.
I know he hasn't shown much to grant such expectations but if the Belgians really do keep the race quite closed to set-up a small bunch sprint for Van Aert, Sagan should be the second-fastest man there. And then stranger things would have happened before in the history of cycling.
I know he doesn't have a team (and yes, RhD, I know he is not the only participant from Slovakia) but if he just keeps himself in the shadows like in Richmond and Bergen, that shouldn't be too much of an issue here, when the strongest team want to keep things together for a sprint.
I have been a bit (a lot) worried about his climbing the past couple of years, but today he was the best in Slovakia on the hills, and in the Benelux Tour he wasn't too bad on the cobbled hills, either, and his shape should only be going one way at the moment. So unless it becomes a really, really tough race, he will feature in the final selection, I think.
Sagan losing race on cobbled hill somehow underlined last two(three) seasons. He isnt same rider after his TDF 2018 fall. Last three years he had winter prep with troubles but still. I remember only one race where he seemed like world class rider last two seasons. It was Harrogate and he missed decisive split but was strong that day. I believe he can find his mojo back next seasons like Cavendish this year or Gilbert in the past but we can maybe accept the fact we dont live in Sagan era anymore and never will be. But we will rooting for him till his last race for sure!
Edit: His 2020 Giro stage win was huge he was absolutely amazing I forgot.
Edit: His 2020 Giro stage win was huge he was absolutely amazing I forgot.
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I don't see the point in repeating this over and over again. Only naive people thought he could still win a race like this. Most of the riders he used to compete with in big races have either declined just like him or retired (with a few exceptions). You can't rewind time.
If I were Bora I'd go with Pollitt as leader and Sagan as backup for PR. Sagan doesn't have it anymore.
His lack of punch even on super short hills is kinda depressing. I still remember his sick acceleration on the Poggio in 2017, those days are gone.
But yeah, I guess Paris-Roubaix still plays to his main strengths.
But yeah, I guess Paris-Roubaix still plays to his main strengths.
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