Sprinter wins Slovakian of the
year Peter Sagan [Cannondale] has
revealed that he's had an offer from Fernando Alonso to ride for his team in
2015. In an interview with Slovak
newspaper Pravda, Sagan, who
turns 24 at the end of January, says that a number of teams are looking for his
signature when his current contract expires at the end of 2014. “Not only from
him [Alonso],” Sagan told Pravda. “I have several offers, even from
Dukla Trencin [a Slovakian continental team.]“I am still contracted for a year. Everything is open and we'll discuss it. I'm not saying that I will go, maybe I'll stay. I'll see how it develops.” The Slovak is contracted to Cannondale until the end of the season, where he's spent his whole professional career.
The interview took place at an
award ceremony where Sagan was named Slovak sportsman and cyclist [golden
pedal] of the year. Sagan won more than any other rider in 2013, with 22 wins
to Mark Cavendish's 19, and he also claimed his second consecutive green jersey
at the Tour de France. Sagan says he is willing to sacrifice his position at
the top of the winner's rankings to secure better quality
victories next season.
“For me, it's not important to
win 23 or 25 times, I would rather have quality wins,” Sagan said. “I would
like to win in one of the most prestigious races, Milan-San Remo, the Tour of
Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. If I could win one of them it would be enough, but
maybe I can win two or three of them.”
Despite his impressive
palmarès, Sagan is yet to win one of the monuments. He came close to success at
Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders in 2013, finishing second in both
races. He was favourite to take the title in La Primavera, but was usurped by
surprise victor Gerald Ciolek.
“I screwed Milan-San Remo up.
I lost that one myself," he said of defeat in the snow-interrupted race.
"It was definitely the worst conditions I've had. But even in races like
that I try to remain positive. [On the bus transfer] My leg was red with the
cold and a couldn't move my ankle, but I knew that it would pass. The conditions
were the same for everyone, so I couldn't complain. I do not think I'm the
best, I still have a lot to learn to become better.”
The Cancellara conundrum
Standing between Sagan and his
ambitions will be Fabian Cancellara, who is
geared up for a big season, even by his standards. Cancellara rode away from
the Sagan at the Tour of Flanders, before going on to win
at Paris-Roubaix a week later. While Sagan admires his rival's talents he is
trying not to let the Swiss' dominance last year get to him. “First of all I
have to focus on myself, before I look at others. I am not ignorant of others,
but they have their own lives." Tom Boonen will also
be back in action and will provide another hurdle for Sagan to jump if hopes to
secure victory in one of the five monuments.
It's not just on the bike that
Sagan is working on. One change he made this year was to leave his home country
for the sunnier climes of Monaco, to give himself a base in central Europe. “I
used to live only in hotels and I was a bit tired,” he explained. “I have had a
few training days in Monaco and it suited me. I can't train in Slovakia in the
winter, so I decided to make my base in Monaco. I will spend most of my time
there, between races.”
Sagan will go to Cannondale's team presentation in
Los Angeles in the coming days, before heading to San Luis, Argentina for his
first race of the season.