When a great career comes to an end, the farewell includes at least a pinch of pathos and hyperbolization. Or your name is Peter Sagan and you don’t need any of that.
Photo: TASR/AP
Peter Sagan and his winning pose in one of the stage finishes at the Tour de France.
After all, “why so serious?” Something ends, something else begins, that’s how the Slovak Tourminator used to say it, right?
Yesterday in Košice, he finally said goodbye to his competitive career. On the off-road “machine” that was always closest to his heart. In relative silence and the intimate interest of the media, the way he prefers it. It was always more of a worry than a joy for him.
No more useless questions. Finally the desired peace. Preferably somewhere secluded. Nevertheless, once again and for the last time: Chapeau, Peter Sagan!
It was a big bike ride with all that goes with it. Constant tension, because you never knew when, where and how.
His famous attack on Libby Hill in Richmond 2015, the devilish look at the finish line of the hellish Roubaix 2018, the poses of Wall Street tycoon Belfort, or Hulk or Forrest Gump at the finish line of the Tour de France will forever remain a – perhaps unattainable – part of Slovak sports history.
About fifteen hundred kilometers away – in Nice, France – at roughly the same time, they decorated the winner of this year’s Tour de France. Tadej Pogačar won the rare yellow jersey in an unexpectedly sovereign way. Third time in his career.
Sagan ruled the “all-round green” for seven years, just as dominantly.
It was a native of Žilina who led the world peloton through a difficult period when the sport was regaining its lost confidence. From the gloomy “Armstrong” days to today.
Sagan was the mastermind of modern total cycling and passed the scepter to the best long ago. Symbolically – a Slovak to a Slovak.
With the eloquent postscript: “Have fun and have fun”.
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
