Weighting up the situation following his disappointing end to the Amstel Gold Race, Peter Sagan and his Cannondale Pro Cycling team have decided that the Slovakian rider will indeed take part in Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday.
Sagan has clocked up a total of eight wins this year and has been the rider to beat thus far. He showed rare frailties in a targeted event yesterday, finishing back in 36th, but said afterwards that he was hampered by cramps that he felt were likely brought on by the increase in temperatures.
Now his team has confirmed that he will be present in Flèche, which will be his last race before a break from competition.
“We have decided to also enter Sagan into 'Fleche' because of the desire to race that he has shown, and to give him the chance to gain experience,” stated team director Alberto Volpi.
Although the rider has been racing at a very high level since the start of the season, finishing first or second in every single-day race he entered up until yesterday, Volpi is clear that he doesn’t believe Sagan’s high level of condition has deserted him. “The performance of the Amstel Gold Race is not significant. The cramps due to the heat were decisive. The physical form shown in Brabantse [Brabantse Pijl – ed.] cannot be gone all of a sudden.
“We believe he can do a good performance, [keeping in mind] all the unknowns relating to the debut in such a demanding Classic.”
Sagan has shown repeatedly that he is one of the strongest riders in pro cycling on uphill finishes, although it remains to be seen how he handles something as long and steep as the Mur de Huy.
He will be joined by Moreno Moser, Damiano Caruso, Stefano Agostini, Alessandro De Marchi, Michel Koch, Maciej Paterski and Daniele Ratto in the Cannondale team. Volpi emphasises that it won’t be him alone who shoulders the pressure.
“ If Sagan is the standout, the Cannondale Pro Cycling will also have two riders in Moser and Caruso who fit the profile of the Flèche, as well as possessing the qualities to succeed,” he said.
“We believe very strongly that they will be competitive and also don’t forget a rider as strong as De Marchi.”