• Country

He’s Done It Again! “I’m Still in Shock,” Says Peter Sagan

By Martin Mrazek

His Slovakian team began the World Championships race vastly outnumbered, but Peter Sagan still managed to cross the finish line first. Securing the second world title for Slovakia with just three riders against nine in most of the top teams is truly an amazing feat.

“I’m still in shock. When it split in crosswinds, I was last to make it to the front group,” said Sagan after claiming the second consecutive World Championships title. He won in a sprint ahead of Brit Mark Cavendish and Belgian Tom Boonen.

April 15, 2014 - Doha, QATAR - British Mark Cavendish of Dimension Data, Slovakian Peter Sagan of Tinkoff and Belgian Tom Boonen of team Etixx - Quick-Step pictured on the podium after the men's elite road race at the 2016 UCI World Road World Cycling Championships in Doha, Qatar, a race of 257.5 km from Doha to Doha, Sunday 16 October 2016. BELGA PHOTO YORICK JANSENS, Image: 302981991, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: * Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands Rights OUT *, Model Release: no, Credit line: Profimedia, Zuma Press - News
British Mark Cavendish, Slovakian Peter Sagan and Belgian Tom Boonen pictured on the podium after the men’s elite road race at the 2016 UCI World Road World Cycling Championships in Doha, Qatar.

“I have the biggest fan group here, and I felt it. Thanks to everybody for that and to Slovakia.
Thanks to the family. My father is here, my wife. And my friends from my home town came here and supported me. Thanks for everything, I had to win today.”

Cross-winds played a big part in the race around Doha, Qatar, and only around 25 riders managed to stay in the leading group till the end.

profimedia-0302970367

“My brother was also in the first group, but when he took water, he was dropped. Thanks to Michael Kolar, who worked for me all day and supported me,” Sagan praised his teammates. He then admitted that he might have not finished at all, had the things gone a little bit differently.

“I was lucky that Nizzolo didn’t close the gap when I was coming up. If he had closed on me, we were going to crash because I wasn’t going to brake. I’m very happy for that. It’s unbelievable,” said Sagan with amazement in his eyes.