“It felt we were racing in an oven today,” Sagan said about stage 16, the last stage in which his opponents could possibly change the course of the points classification. “In this flat stage, it was important to make sure again my opponents didn’t gain many points in the intermediate sprint and then in the finish, to try to do my best. We rode very well, my teammates did a very good job but unfortunately, I found myself without a lot of space in the final metres. Still, I was able to take fourth on the line and keep a good lead in the points classification.”
Now Peter has even more time for his shenanigans like the one below.
In yesterday’s stage Sagan attacked early in order to control the intermediate sprint. In the end a non-threatening group gathered all the points and the 29-year-old could just relax.
“We have two more hard stages before Paris,” Sagan added. “So it will be important to be alert and finish within the time limit.”
Points classification after stage 18
1 Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) – 309 pts
2 Elia Viviani (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) – 224 pts
3 Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) – 203 pts
4 Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) – 201 pts
5 Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) – 198 pts
6 Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott) – 180 pts
7 Jasper Stuyven Trek-Segafredo – 157 pts
8 Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team) – 149 pts
9 Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) – 119 pts
10 Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jumbo-Visma) – 116pts
