Constant threat - THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF SAGAN’S CAREER

© PROCYCLING, issue 247, October 2018

Consistency has always been one of Peter Sagan’s biggest strengths. His versatility on a wide range of terrain means he can contest far more races than many of his rivals. 

This was exemplified during the first week of this summer’s Tour de France. Sagan finished in the top 10 on every one of the race’s opening nine stages: in flat bunch sprints, on climbs such as the Mûr-de-Bretagne and across the Roubaix cobblestones. In total, Sagan recorded 14 top-10 finishes at this year’s Tour, the most he has ever achieved in a single edition of the race. His three stage victories make him one of five riders who have now won 11 Tour stages in total, alongside André Greipel and Louison Bobet.

But perhaps more remarkably than his victories, over the seven Tours Sagan has started, he has now finished in the top 10 on 68 stages. Of the 130 stages he has ridden (he only finished four of the 2017 Tour before he was sent home) that equates to 52 per cent. Since Sagan’s debut in the race in 2012, 55 of those finishes have also been in the top five. It’s a tally that few riders even come close to.

2008

As a multi-talented junior, Sagan divides his time. On the road, he finishes second at the Course de la Paix. He wins the Junior Mountain Bike Worlds and is second in the Junior Cross Worlds.

2010

After signing with Cannondale, Sagan is first sighted in a break at the Tour Down Under alongside Lance Armstrong. Wins two stages at Paris-Nice and a Romandie stage. Finishes the year with five wins.

2011

Takes 15 wins, including two stages at Suisse, two more and the GC at the Tour of Poland and three at the Vuelta. Emerges as a contender for the flat Worlds course, but slides to 12th.

2012

Three wins on his Tour debut lead into a sizable green jersey victory. He wins 15 races, and for the first time also makes the top 5 in a monument, with fourth at Sanremo and fifth at Flanders.

2013

Sagan’s win rate increases again and reaches a career high of 22, but his second places include Strade Bianche, San Remo, E3 and Flanders. Wins his first Classic at a freezing Gent-Wevelgem.

2014

By his lofty standards, a fallow year with seven wins. He wins E3 and his last win comes at the Slovakian Nationals. Shortly after, his long-rumoured move to Tinkoff-Saxo is announced.

2015

Sagan takes 10 wins and is second 15 times, five in the Tour. He’s off again in the Classics, finishing fourth in Sanremo and Flanders. Rescues the season with a fine solo victory at the Worlds.

2016

He enjoys the best season in the world champion’s jersey since Boonen. The jewel is his first monument at Flanders, before more Tour stages follow and he retains his rainbow jersey in Qatar.

2017

Starts afresh with Bora. He crashes while contending Flanders, punctures in Roubaix and is ejected from the Tour. But in Bergen, becomes the first rider to win three consecutive world road titles.

2018

Sagan finds his feet at Bora. He takes his third Gent-Wevelgem title and finally wins Roubaix. At the Tour, he wins three stages, wears the yellow jersey and wins his record-equalling sixth green jersey.