Although he’ll ride the first Tour de France of his career in 2012, Slovakian rider Peter Sagan has said that he will deliberately hold back in terms of his condition in order to chase his big goal for the year.
“2012 will be difficult and a challenge for me. I expect two great races. On the one hand, it will be my first Tour and, second, my first Olympics,” he told Pravda.
“I will not be 100% in the Tour. The tactic is the same as that of the Vuelta and the world championship this year. I want to prepare for the Olympic Games. I hope to surprise there and get a good result.”
Sagan is seen as a hugely promising rider for the future. The Liquigas Cannondale competitor has been winning consistently since turning pro at the start of 2010, yet still – amazingly – is just 21 years of age. He’ll turn 22 at the end of January and can be expected to be stronger again this season.
He had a superb 2011, racking up fifteen victories including three stages in the Vuelta a España, two in the Tour de Suisse, one in the Tour of California and three plus the overall in the Giro di Sardegna.
The Tour of Poland was arguably the most significant, though, as his general classification success there was the first overall WorldTour victory of his career.
Sagan has outlined his likely programme for 2012. The season is due to begin with the Tours of Qatar and Oman; after that he’ll compete in Tirreno-Adriatico and then Milan-Sanremo, a race that appears to be made for his characteristics.
The Tour of Flanders and Amstel Gold Race will follow, then he’ll ride the Tour of California as preparation for his first Tour de France.
The Grand Tour will precede the Olympic Games, where he’ll aim to be at 100 percent. Mark Cavendish may be the favourite for many, but the tough course and the fact that Sagan is a much stronger climber means that if he's in peak form, he could be in the running for the Olympic title.