4. Peter Sagan (Cannondale)
4. Peter Sagan (Cannondale)
Peter Sagan once again proved his all-round class with a stunning start to the Tour de France despite, incredibly, ending up without a stage win.
In the first seven stages of this year’s Tour, Sagan was never outside of the top five – conquering the cobbles, featuring at the head of all the bunch sprints and proving he can handle the lumpy stuff, in moderation, on stage two into Sheffield.
Indeed, the Slovakian ace did everything except win as he backed up a strong start to the campaign at the Spring Classics with a stunning defence of the green jersey.
Victory at E3-Harelbeke was followed by third at Gent-Wevelgem and a career-best sixth at Paris-Roubaix – and all, though it often gets forgotten, having only just turned 24.
A winter move to Tinkoff-Saxo could well now take Sagan to the next level, and if it works out his rivals have every reason to be very fearful.
Peter Sagan in 2014
Race wins: seven
Grand Tour stage wins: none
Champagne moment: Victory at E3-Harelbeke crowned a stunning ride where he and Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas had combined to foil Fabian Cancellara and Omega Pharma-Quickstep.