Sagan officially closes cycling chapter: "Don’t want to be compared to anyone anymore"
Cycling
In a time when multi-talented riders like Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock are almost seen as the norm, it’s important to remember those who came before them. Peter Sagan may well have been the first of these all-rounders. The Slovakian rider has officially retired but is now an ambassador for the eSports World Cycling Championship.
The three-time world road champion attended the fourth edition of computer-based cycling in Abu Dhabi. This year, Sagan made a surprising return from retirement to race a few events with Pierre Baguette Cycling, but now that chapter is truly closed. "I don’t see myself competing in cycling anymore," he told Cyclingnews. "I can say that, with my stories, my experiences, and everything I have done in cycling, I’ve raced enough."
Even the eSports version of cycling is something he won’t pick up again, despite his role as ambassador. "I don’t want to be compared to anyone anymore. I can ride for fun with friends, with nice people when I feel like it, when I go for a casual ride. That’s very different from pinning on a race number. I don’t want to have to prepare for something again. If I wanted to be the best in the world again, I’d have to give up everything I’ve built and focus on training again. Otherwise, it’s pointless. To ride the World Championship and, what, finish fiftieth?"
Read more below the photo!
Osborne wins eSports World Championship in Abu Dhabi
"I know these guys train a lot," he continued. "They’re good. I have no interest in racing against them because I know they’re strong." Cycling competitions on Zwift and MyWhoosh became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing people to keep training and competing despite the lack of outdoor races. "During the pandemic, you saw it with car racing, with drivers and gamers. Who won the computer race? It was the gamers, not the Formula 1 drivers." That balance is a bit different in cycling: former Alpecin-Deceuninck rider Jason Osborne became world champion in Abu Dhabi.
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024