Despite been a little uncertain about his sharpness after finishing the Tour de France two weeks ago, double Maillot Vert winner Peter Sagan is determined to try to win today’s Prudential RideLondon Surrey Classic.
“I’m coming here after the Tour de France stress-free to start the third part of my season and I want to make good preparations for the World Championships,” he explained.
“After the Tour de France I want to do well, but I don’t know what I can expect as it’s been two weeks and I haven’t had a lot of training. But for the sprint I want to be at the front and I want to do well.”
Sagan took a stage win in the Tour de France and dominated the green jersey contest, ending it far ahead of Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) and Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma Quick Step). He has confidence in his Cannondale team-mates for today’s finish, but also suggests that other teams will have to work.
“I think other teams will also want to control the race for a sprint, so we will see. I’ve recovered well after the Tour de France, so now I am here with the team and want to do well.
“I’m very happy to be here as I like London and know that cycling is very popular here.”
Meanwhile the rider who edged him out to win the Milan Sanremo, Gerald Ciolek, has made clear that this afternoon’s finish will be a key target for his MTN Qhubeka squad.
“For us this is not a small race this is one of our big goals this season,” the German stated. “We are a Pro-Continental team so from the beginning of the season this has been an aim for us.
“We have seen in the Olympic Road Race that it more or less ended in a sprint, so I think we can expect a sprint on Sunday. That’s what we are here for; I think we have a good chance to do a good result in a sprint.
“When I’ve seen other races in the UK before, I always remember there were a lot of spectators and a lot of people on the road to keep our motivation up when we’re racing.”