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SAGAN SAGA

We talk to Peter Sagan, the flamboyant, charismatic, three time World Champion, about his life as a pro cyclist and his recent retirement from road racing. We also discuss his vision for the future, including both his 2024 plans as he moves into the MTB arena and what comes next.

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What are your earliest memories of cycling and who got you into the sport?

I would say that my earliest memories of cycling are probably the same ones most children in the world have, that is having fun with your bike while playing with your siblings or friends. I think everybody knows by now that I made the move to cycling as a sport thanks to my brother, Juraj. He was a member of a cycling team in our hometown of Zilina and I followed in his footsteps.

What motivated him to start in the first place?

I don’t know exactly what led Juraj to practice this sport, that is something better answered by him, but I imagine it’s the feeling of liberty when you ride your bike outdoors and the adrenaline you feel when racing.

We know you were a big fan of Valentino Rossi as a kid. What was it you liked about him?

I liked the fact he didn’t fit in a mould; he was always a natural person, he did what he thought and was always smiling and happy.

Did you have any cycling heroes growing up?

Yes, one of my heroes was the French mountain biker Cédric Gracia.

Your former coach runs Peter Sagan’s Children’s Tour. How often have you been able to make an appearance there and what do you most enjoy about attending?

I always do my best to make an appearance whenever my busy schedule allows it. There is no doubt it has always been a pleasure seeing all the little kids enjoying the day on their bikes and having a great time with their families. The aim has always been to introduce as many children as possible to this beautiful sport, in a leisurely and fun way.

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Out of your three World Championship titles, which was your favourite to have won?

Winning a World Championship, regardless of the sport, is certainly one of the most memorable moments in the career of any athlete. Personally, it’s extremely difficult for me to single out one of my three wins, each one is special in its own way.

In 2015, I won my first World Championship, so it was, of course, a milestone. In 2016, I wasn’t expecting to repeat my title and this fact made it special. Finally, in 2017, my victory made me the first ever male cyclist to win three consecutive Road World Championships, which obviously is an extremely important aspect. As you can see, it’s impossible to pick one out of the three.

You’re famous for your winning celebrations, but what do you remember as the single-most exhilarating moment in your career?

Again, it’s very hard to decide which moment in my career stands out. I’ve had the privilege of raising my arms in victory many times, in some important races, and I’ve worn some much-coveted jerseys. All these moments have a different meaning to me for different reasons and, I could say, are equally important.

Do you have any races that you wish you had won before retiring?

There are probably many races that are missing from my palmares but if I could choose one it would be Milano-San Remo. I have been close to winning a few times, in 2017 by a few centimetres, and I would have liked to be able to retire from road racing with that victory. However, I don’t regret anything, I have always given my absolute best, in all races, big and small, from start to finish. I know that in every race I have achieved the best I could on that particular day.

Now that you’ve ridden your last Tour de France, do you plan to return as a spectator anytime soon?

I really don’t have a schedule right now, but I’m absolutely certain that I will be back to the Tour de France as a spectator. It is the pinnacle of this sport and has given so much to me, not just the race in itself but also the organisers and, above all, the public. There is no doubt that you will see me on the roadside, watching the peloton race.

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You’ve been a pro rider for well over a decade. What have been the biggest changes within the peloton in that time from your perspective?

There have been changes in the peloton since the start of my professional career and at times they happened fast. However, at the same time it’s one’s personality that changes because, as we grow older and we mature, our perspective changes. Right now, I would say there is less enjoyment and less respect within the peloton compared to when I started.

Who is your all-time best mate amongst the peloton, past or present?

I had, and still have, so many mates and good friends in the peloton but three riders have been closest to me. My brother Juraj, Daniel Oss and Maciej Bodnar have practically always been with me, in the same team, since the start of my career.

What made this year the right time to retire from road cycling?

When, in 2022, I sat down with Giovanni Lombardi and Gabriele Uboldi to ponder about my future, we came to the conclusion that the moment had come for me to withdraw from competitive road racing in 2024.

The year 2023 was meant to be a sort of closing scene, where I payed my tribute to the thousands and thousands of fans that have supported me throughout my career. Still, the 2024 season will be dedicated to MTB riding and racing.

What would you say are the single best and worst aspects of being a pro cyclist?

In my view, I’ll be able to better answer this question when I have finally retired from professional cycling. Right now, I love what I’m doing, I love this job and if I had to mention one negative aspect, it would probably be the fact I’m not able to spend as much time as I would like with my son Marlon. This is probably the hardest part of this fantastic sport and job, you spend so much of the year away from your loved ones.

What are your big goals this year in the MTB arena?

Primarily, to enjoy what I do, be as close to my fans and the public as possible and finish my cycling career the way I started it. Finally, although I’m aware that it will not be easy, I’d like to try and qualify for the Paris Olympics.

What’s next within cycling – commentating, coaching, influencing – what do you see as your future niche?

My planning at this moment is more in the short term rather than the long term. As I said, mountain biking is my primary focus in 2024. One never knows what the future might bring but it is still too early, I might be able to better answer a year from now.

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You’ve been a Sportful athlete for a number of years and are continuing to be an ambassador after retirement. How did the relationship with Sportful develop and what is it like working with a clothing partner like Sportful?

For me, Sportful, is more than a simple clothing partner. We shared a lot of beautiful moments together and a lot of successes during these years.

When I go to visit the Sportful HQ in Fonzaso (Italy), it is always a pleasure and it’s always like coming back into a family. I really like to work close to them, because of their continuous research for improvement and quality in every aspect. I really like to spend my time with them.

What is the piece of Sportful gear that most surprised and impressed you when you first tested it out?

I would say the Sportful Bomber Jersey. It’s easy. We tested and developed this model together to create a cycling jersey that could fit both the racing necessities of the athletes and the comfort issues of a simple, passionate cyclist. I definitely love that jersey.

What is your go-to, staple piece of Sportful kit that you wouldn’t be without?

For sure the Fiandre Pro Jacket. This is an amazing product from the Fiandre line of Sportful; the best solution to face any kind of weather condition, from rain to wind.

I used a lot of these jackets during my winter training or in the first classics of the north, like Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, both with Bora-Hansgrohe and Team TotalEnergies. Probably it’s the most versatile product in the whole Sportful range. I suggest it.

What do you see your future collaborations with Sportful looking like?

As I said, Sportful is more than a partner. We did a lot of great projects in the past years and, for sure, in the future we will have even more possibilities to work together and to create some great content.

Actually, I really like to work with them in activating some of their most important clients, all around the world, and pedalling some business social rides. For sure, as a brand ambassador, I’ll help the brand in spreading its mission to all the customers and growing in every continent.

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You’re admired amongst your peers for bringing a fresh approach to pro cycling. You had charisma, showmanship and seemed to be able to compete to the highest level at nearly every race. How did it feel to be the black sheep in the peloton who was re-writing the rule book?

I’m honored and it’s a pleasure for me to see that you have that opinion of me. I don’t like boasting about myself, I’m a very humble person, but it certainly is nice to see you think I brought all that to this sport, although I never considered myself to be the “black sheep” of the peloton. In any case, it all came naturally, this is who I was and still am. There wasn’t any advance planning or a template on how I was going to act. Whatever I did was spontaneous, on the spur of the moment.

You made the transition from XC, winning the Junior World Championships, to WorldTour racing with Liquigas and more World Championship wins. What prompted the move and were there any skills that transitioned across well?

I think it was a natural evolution, I wasn’t the first and I will certainly not be the last to make this transition. Once you show, as a junior, your skills, that you have what it takes to become professional, you are then able to take this big step that is natural in my view. As for the skills that transitioned, I think bike handling is one of the most important ones.

Do you have any advice to riders considering riding multiple disciplines? Or any general advice for the next generation of aspiring cyclists?

The most important advice I would give to all current and aspiring professional riders is to never forget that you have to enjoy what you do and that you should keep in mind that the results aren’t always the most important thing.

Of course, you have to train hard, give your absolute best and make sacrifices but if you enjoy what you do and stay calm when the race didn’t go your way, it will be easier to overcome hardships and stay focused.

You have a great car collection. Which one is your favourite and why?

To be honest, my car collection is small. All the cars on display in my museum at the SP Resort have a special value to me but my favourite one is the Porsche Paolo Zani, founder and president of the Liquigas team, gave me after I won three stages and the green jersey at the 2012 Tour de France.

What is the best gift you’ve ever received from a fan?

My best gift is to meet my fans before and after every race, as much as possible, and to see them happy. If I can do that then it’s worth it.