Peter Sagan. The name itself conjures images of audacious bike handling, unexpected victories, and a personality that dances on the edge of cycling’s established norms. For many, including those entrenched in the professional cycling media, understanding Sagan remains an elusive pursuit. He’s a rider of immense talent, yet wrapped in layers of playful defiance and genuine self-awareness that can leave even seasoned observers scratching their heads.
My own experience attempting to glean insight from Sagan firsthand echoes this sentiment. Some time ago, in a rather unremarkable hotel conference room, I found myself among a group of journalists vying for a moment with the Slovakian star. It was before a charity event, and the promised individual interviews had dissolved into a group setting due to Sagan’s tardiness, or perhaps, his disinterest. We were left to fire questions into the collective, hoping something would stick.
Knowing Sagan’s reputed disdain for what he considers mundane inquiries, I aimed for something thought-provoking. “Do you ever lie in bed replaying the final moments of races like Milan-San Remo, races that slipped through your fingers?” I asked.
His response was a direct, almost curt, “no,” followed by a glance around the room signaling his readiness for the next question. The entire session proceeded in this somewhat strained manner – a mix of predictable questions met with terse or evasive answers. Yet, the collective effort persisted, fueled by the undeniable charisma and captivating performances of Peter Sagan. Everyone, it seemed, is drawn to the Sagan mystique.
This article represents my second attempt to delve into the complexities of the man behind the rainbow stripes. My initial approach involved a deep dive into the vast archive of interviews Sagan has given – dozens of conversations meticulously reviewed to extract a coherent narrative. I crafted an “as-told-to” piece, piecing together fragments of his public statements into what resembled an autobiography in his own voice. It was a construct, a curated portrait built from publicly available pieces, aiming to capture the essence of his philosophy and racing ethos. Within those interviews, like hidden gems, were glimpses of genuine insight, particularly his reflections after meeting Pope Francis – moments where his words resonated with sincerity and depth.
However, that first attempt felt like an artful collage rather than a true unveiling. Hence, this second iteration takes a different path – a “write-around.” Despite repeated requests, a direct interview with Sagan remained out of reach. Instead, I turned to those who know him, those who have witnessed his talent up close, and those with expertise in understanding the athlete’s mindset. This portrait of Peter Sagan is built from their perspectives, offering a multifaceted view of cycling’s most intriguing figure.
“Peter is just on another plane than the rest of us”
When asked to articulate Peter Sagan’s extraordinary talent, retired American pro cyclist Timmy Duggan, a former teammate at Liquigas-Cannondale, pauses before offering a succinct assessment: “I would say he has insane mutant talent.”
Jonathan Vaughters, manager of EF Education First-Drapac, echoes this sentiment, albeit with more technical language. “Physiologically, he’s an interesting specimen,” Vaughters explains. “He’s not a pure sprinter nor does he have a huge aerobic engine. But he has a huge capacity to produce glycolytic power for a long period of time.”
Vaughters once had the opportunity to recruit Sagan, an experience that left a lasting impression. “Peter was training in Park City, Utah,” Vaughters recounts. “At that point, he and Oleg Tinkov had fallen out. He and I both thought that Tinkov would just let him go. So I piloted a little plane with my son out to Park City and had dinner with Peter and his then fiancé. Peter definitely spent more time that evening talking to my son about video games than he and I talked about bike racing. But I came away from that thinking he is a good guy and a solid human being.” Beyond personal impressions, Vaughters is unequivocal about Sagan’s prowess as a cyclist: “Sagan is also one hell of a bike racer.”
Vaughters believes Sagan’s appeal extends beyond hardcore cycling fans. “I think even casual fans can relate to how he rides a bike,” he suggests. “His incredible bike-handling skills are self-evident. And the way he wins races. Think about his first world championship, the way he stomped everyone on one hill in Richmond. That sort of thing looks really good on TV. By contrast Chris Froome is spinning a tiny gear, making these awkward surges, just grinding people to death. Compared to that, Peter just looks spectacular. People get that.”
He further elaborates on the physiological advantages of Sagan’s bike handling. “The way he can surf from wheel to wheel, he actually brakes and then accelerates less than everyone else,” Vaughters notes. “He winds up saving a measurable amount of energy in races because of it.”
Ted King, another former Liquigas-Cannondale teammate, witnessed this “mutant talent” firsthand for three years. “Peter is just on another plane than the rest of us when it comes to cycling talent,” King affirms. “He could be a professional trials rider or a pro triathlete. His consistency puts him on a different pedestal. Even now, I’m still blown away by his talent.”
To illustrate Sagan’s exceptional abilities, King recalls a training ride on the strade bianche in Tuscany. “We were finishing a hard stretch, going up this steep hill,” King remembers. “As he waited for other riders to catch back up, he popped a wheelie. And then took one hand off the bar. And then he started riding no hands. That’s how I try to explain his talent. He could ride up a steep dirt road doing 500 watts with no hands on the bar.”
While acknowledging Sagan’s natural gifts, Duggan emphasizes his work ethic. “Sure, he has a ton of natural talent, but I don’t think I ever had a teammate that worked harder than Peter,” Duggan states. “He makes it look easy, but trust me, that guy has done a ton of behind-the-scenes hard work for many years, since he was young.”
“I think his dominating operating system is being himself”
Peter Sagan’s interviews are often a source of fascination and, at times, bewilderment. He can appear impish, playful, serious, or even seemingly detached, depending on the context and, perhaps, his mood. This multifaceted persona is, according to those who know him, largely intentional. Despite any language barriers, Sagan is acutely aware of how he presents himself.
“I think Peter often thinks the questions are dumb or rote,” King suggests. “His answers can be brutally honest. And honesty like that is not what journalists are looking for. He never seems to be trying to hide anything. But he can end up seeming aloof. The best way to understand Peter is to let his talent speak for itself.”
Kristin Keim, a clinical sport psychologist, sees Sagan’s humor as a coping mechanism. “Sometimes Sagan seems to refuse to help journalists on purpose. It’s not a language barrier. Maybe that’s a statement: ‘It’s just a bike race — if you want to sit there and make a story out of it, that’s cool, you can spin it whatever way. I’m not going to give you what you want because I don’t have to.’ I think he’s intentionally more authentic to the fans than to journalists. He’s not racing to be covered on Cyclingnews.”
Vaughters concurs, recognizing Sagan’s intelligence and potential weariness of repetitive questioning. “He’s highly intelligent and I think a lot of times the way he keeps getting asked the same questions can be tedious,” Vaughters notes. “Like he’s intentionally responding to stupid questions with equally stupid answers. It doesn’t bother me, he’s delivering so much value for his sponsors, I don’t think he needs to worry about being more polite in every interview. He never seems like a dick to me.”
Duggan takes this perspective further, suggesting Sagan’s approach to media interactions is strategically beneficial. “I can’t even imagine the level of attention he’s getting all the time, 24/7, from journalists and fans,” Duggan observes. “I can certainly see how he’d make a game out if. And more importantly for him to see how he could conserve his mental energy in terms of how he interacts with the press. I think his dominating operating system is being himself, that makes it really easy to deal with pressure — whether that’s pressure dealing with journalists or on the bike.” In essence, by being authentically himself, Sagan shields himself from the relentless pressures of professional cycling.
“People feel gravitation toward the mystery”
Peter Sagan maintains a noticeable degree of privacy. While present on social media, sharing glimpses of his life, wins, and causes he supports, he remains guarded about his personal life away from the cycling world. He cultivates a genuine private sphere.
An attempt by Manual for Speed to delve into Sagan’s personal life prior to the Amgen Tour of California highlighted his aversion to over-exposure. The resulting video interview became somewhat uncomfortable as Sagan skillfully deflected personal questions, underscoring his desire to control his public image.
“Athletes who feel confident and own who they are, they’re a little more secretive,” Keim explains. “They don’t talk about their relationships, it’s just a different lens they have. Some athletes use social media to fill certain voids because they’re not confident. Sagan is obviously not like that.”
Veteran journalist Bill Gifford, who penned a cover story on Sagan for Outside Magazine, also observed this guarded nature. “Even if you have an hour alone with him, it’s hard to get anything really deep or personal out of him. Trust me,” Gifford states. “There’s a guardedness there. Maybe because of his unique kind of homegrown story, growing up in the middle of nowhere in a country out of the cycling mainstream, going to races with his brother and dad. He doesn’t have that thing where, in Italy or Belgium, he would have been worshipped since he was a teenager and grown into some cocky little prick.” Sagan’s upbringing outside the traditional cycling hotbeds may contribute to his grounded and less overtly self-promoting demeanor.
Duggan believes Sagan possesses a keen sense for authenticity. “My experience is that when you’re interacting with Peter and you’re being yourself, he’s more likely to be himself back at you,” Duggan offers. “And if he’s senses inauthenticity then you’re not going to get as deep or real or passionate a response. I just think he’s got his priorities straight in terms of enjoying life, putting his friends and family and life in general in front of results and sport, and not necessarily attaching his self-worth to his latest results like so many other athletes do.”
Paradoxically, Sagan’s reticence to share personal details seems to amplify his fan appeal. “The enigma is part of the appeal,” Keim suggests. “People feel gravitation toward the mystery. This is especially true and intriguing today with social media when you can feel a part of the lives of so many other athletes. I don’t think he acts that way as a marketing campaign, but it’s true that people can put their own story on who he is.” In a world of oversharing, Sagan’s carefully curated mystery becomes a compelling part of his brand.
“The best way to manage a racer like him is to stay out of the way”
Ultimately, Peter Sagan’s enduring popularity stems from his captivating racing style and his commitment to being himself on and off the bike. He brings a sense of joy and showmanship to a sport often perceived as stoic and demanding.
“When I see him on TV it always looks like he’s having a blast,” King observes. He recounts a humorous anecdote from their early days as teammates, “It was that way when we rode together, too. He realizes that bike racers are showmen. He’s always a great showman. People appreciate that.” Sagan’s approach to cycling embraces the entertainment aspect, connecting with fans on a visceral level.
Keim highlights Sagan’s mental fortitude as another source of admiration. “He goes into races with intentions, he always goes in there with something that he wants. So if he goes into a Classic where he knows the other teams are going to race negatively against him, then he’s like fuck, I’m just going to play with you and keep attacking,” Keim explains. “He goes out there and he doesn’t care if he wins, he’s just going to race as hard as shit. That’s his legacy. He’s like the most consistent rider ever. He’s willing to take these great risks. He’s able to thrive because he always has the village of support around him.” This fearless, attacking style, regardless of outcome, resonates deeply with fans.
Keim also believes Sagan’s ability to compartmentalize and move on contributes to his success. Addressing the earlier question about replaying missed opportunities, she asserts, “He doesn’t lie in bed thinking about not winning Milan-San Remo because he thinking about his wife and child,” she insists. “That’s the thing that makes him consistently such a great rider. It’s not just his physical capacity, it’s his ability to present, to be mindful and to go out there and execute whatever job. His ability to let go and to not digest the toxicity. That’s part of what makes him such a great athlete.” Sagan’s focus on the present and his life beyond cycling provides a crucial mental balance.
King points out that beneath the relaxed exterior lies a fiercely competitive athlete. “Given how he was forced to leave the Tour last year, I can assure you that he is extremely focused on winning the green jersey,” King states, referencing Sagan’s controversial disqualification from the Tour de France. “I know he has kept all those green jerseys and they mean something to him. I say this as a fan, I’m excited to see what he does. He’s always fun to watch.” Sagan’s competitive drive remains a core element of his persona.
Duggan shares this anticipation for Sagan’s future performances. “For him, he’s won everything, so if doesn’t win or do something that’s flashy or spectacular, no one’s going to care,” he says. “I mean, the way you might see him in the Tour, getting in the breakaways going for points that way — what other sprinter does that? The way he attacks races, it’s better for him — and it’s good for the sport, too.” Sagan’s willingness to deviate from conventional sprinter tactics further underscores his unique approach.
Duggan and King emphasize Sagan’s understated leadership style. He doesn’t issue directives or impose complex strategies. He leads by example, enjoying the ride and delivering results. “He’s not attached to the sport and to his results,” Duggan notes. “And that enables him, when he’s in the moment, riding his bike, to really be present and have fun with it.”
This blend of talent, personality, and approachability makes Peter Sagan a manager’s dream. “The best way to manage a racer like him is to stay out of the way and just let him win,” Vaughters concludes. “He’s the kind of rider if you ask him what kind of support he needs in a big race, he’ll just ask you to make sure he gets enough water and bananas.” For Peter Sagan, perhaps the essence of success is found in simplicity and staying true to himself, both on and off the bike.
