It’s enough for me to kill Sagan again. Anywhere – PRAVDA.sk

Peter Zánický (48) watched his big star for the first time at a domestic event – the Around Slovakia race. “And I saw how much he cared for him,” says the cycling coach.

When you compare the Races Around Slovakia with similarly large events, how did the Slovaks survive as organizers and fans?

I was in Košice for the first two days and I can boldly say that they can easily compare with higher races. For example, around Switzerland. Even there, they do not have the backdrop that was with us. Of course, people came to see Peter in particular.

Did you get any good reviews in your ears?

They were all fine before. After all, otherwise up to seven World Tour teams would not come here. Juro Sagan mentioned to me in the past that many cyclists asked him about Slovakia. The organizers managed it well, the peloton did not get lost, at other – often more prestigious – events it happens (smile).

Sagan, who acts as a phlegmatic, raced at home for the first time. Was it exceptional and important for him at the same time?

You don’t even know how much. I know five, I saw him driving off the bus in Košice, I felt that it was something special. That he cares so much about it. He is very happy with the yellow jersey, but he also wanted to win the stage. Especially in Trnava, he longed for triumph. Maybe that’s a good reason for him to return to Around Slovakia someday.

Was the race of such quality that we could assess its form?

Good question. Seven elite stables show that they had quality, but if we want to have fun with a view to the World Cup in Belgium, then it is questionable. The fact that he won the yellow jersey is great, even in terms of profile, the stages could resemble the world championship.

On the other hand, it turned out that in Slovakia he was also fought by sprinters, whom he once gave the left back. He certainly wasn’t excellent in that regard. On Sunday, there will be a completely different competition at the World Cup. The form is not bad, but whether it will be enough for the best, it is difficult to say. Peter will definitely not be a favorite.

It can be to his advantage…

If he stays with the biggest aces ahead, then it really can be. Hot favorites will guard each other. However, Peter will not only be lucky, he must have great legs that day. I expect it to be a very selective and difficult race. The Belgians will be ecstatic.

What is crucial for a competitor who cannot rely on team support?

Sagan had a great instinct in the past, he often knew how to decide which escape was important and which he didn’t have to pay that much attention to. The rider does not have many rounds during the race, they must be spent wisely. And that he won’t have support? It doesn’t matter, only his legs will be important.

His brother Juraj surprisingly announced on Sunday that he would not join TotalEnergies. Did you suspect that the fraternal paths would diverge?

I knew it wasn’t certain. He is currently trying a different path and I am very much a fan of him. The fact that they would be divided would be nothing new to him – after all, their calendar was often different. The Velitsov siblings also split up in the past, but they continued to work very well together. It can also be Juraj’s journey.

But doesn’t that testify a little about Peter’s weaker position? He can no longer enforce everything anymore…

Is that so. He signed the contract first, followed by Daniel Oss and Maciej Bodar and other people from marketing. Today, he is no longer in a position to stamp and say: I still want this. Any elite team would take him alone.

He always relied on the neighborhood. Probably not happy about this situation…

You must have imagined it differently. However, not only Peter, but also TotalEnergies points with his finger. I believe that Juraj will still find his new team. In addition, the riders have individual training in the winter, nothing prevents them from training together again.

Were you surprised by leaving for the French team TotalEnergies?

Honestly, I was also surprised by the transfer to Bora in the 2017 season. Pete is more comfortable with the Italian mentality. It used to be a whisper about the British Sky, if the mountains-mines promised him there, it probably wouldn’t be anything to him.

I’m not saying he’s not disciplined, not at all, but he needs more freedom. Bora finally gave it to him as a new team that longs for progress. It’s probably something like TotalEnergies.

At first I didn’t feel good about signing the contract, I wasn’t excited at all, the French stables don’t have extra good references. After all, Julian Alaphilippe never rode in the home team. I guess they put it together well and they will pleasantly surprise me.

Peter has repeatedly said that road cycling is boring, the important thing is said to take place over the last ten kilometers. It seems that the terrain also brings him more joy and relaxation. What else motivates him then?

Maybe he still wants to prove that it’s not scrap metal. Somewhere in the back of his head he has perhaps the hidden fourth title of world champion, although the chances of him are very small. He is well aware that once everything is over, at the same time he feels that the news has not yet come.

When we talk about it together, I don’t feel like he has unfulfilled dreams. In any case, this is definitely his last contract, the other will not sign. Then you may find more fun, even a mountain bike. However, his words about nude are a little exaggerated. Today it is raced differently, right from the start.

Do you have a dream that Peter has not fulfilled yet?

I don’t mean any specific triumph, maybe it would be enough for me if he killed – once again – as they say. Either in a great classic or last year on Gire, where in the 10th stage he showed that he is still a great racer and he is here. But I have one more desire.

Vravte…

I first led him as a nine-year-old boy, today I am preparing Petr Sagan’s Children’s Tour. It would be nice if his Marlon started at the event I take care of. It would make me happy.

Have you talked about it together yet?

Yes. However, it is complicated. He didn’t rule it out, but he wouldn’t want to lose his anonymity. So that Marlon wouldn’t be unhappy about it. However, the little one enjoys the bike a lot, you must have seen it on videos from social networks. I’m not pushing the saw, but maybe it will work one day.