As Dave said during the Tour de Suisse; ‘Sagan’s winning just for fun.’
And that’s how it looked today.
It’s not just his speed in the sprint and up the inclines; it’s his ability to read the race – he didn’t waste himself by marking Chava but was on Cancellara like a ferret.
Add to that the confidence which enable him to ignore Capo Cancellara’s flicked elbows and switches and you have all the ingredients off the most exciting prospect cycling has seen since V de B.
In 2007 he won the Slovakian junior road a ‘cross titles.
A year later it was the European and World junior mountain bike titles.
In 2010 Liquigas picked up on him; he rewarded them with two stages in Paris-Nice, one in Romandie, and two in California.
Last year the trajectory continued – three stages and the GC in Sardinia, a stage in California, two in Suisse, two plus the GC in Poland and three in the Vuelta.
This year has been phenomenal – a stage in Oman, a stage in Tirreno, a stage in De Panne, five in California and four in Suisse.
If he stays on the path – which he will do if he stays with Liquigas – there’s no telling what he’ll win.
As the Liquigas press officer, Paolo Barbieri said; ‘we don’t know yet where Peter’s limits are.’
And it was good to see ‘our boy’ Michael Mørkøv in the break and taking the polka dot jersey – there’s only one fourth category Climb tomorrow, so odds on he’ll keep it.
Michael had a cracking Classics season, in the break of the day in virtually every race that mattered.
When Michael says he went in those breaks because he wanted to make sure the team was noticed in the absence of Nick Nuyens, from other riders it might sound like ‘spin.’
But not from Michael, he feels a responsibility to the jersey he wears and to Bjarne Riis – pro cycling isn’t all about dodgy deals and getting ‘flicked,’ men like Morkov still have a sense of honour.
But respect is due Cancellara – he displayed real flair with that late attack.
Evans and Wiggins are still right there – as are Nibali, Hesjedal and a certain Denis Menchov.
Let’s not forget he’s won two out of the three Grand Tours.
Here’s what Dave thinks about today; ‘good finale, good winner.’
Vik says; ‘good ride by Sagan but you have to hand it to Cancellara; I have to say though, whilst the last 20 K was good, prior to that it was like watching paint dry!‘
What our Editor thinks; ‘Cancellara so strong, what an explosive effort… Sagan not only just about as strong, but very sharp too, quick to spot the right wheel… Sky riders a bit absent. Cav – well, too steep to tell… Evans looking hot, and confident, and ready to defend his goals.‘
A good summary, Martin, thank you.
Tomorrow is a sprinters’ stage – Lotto showed real motivation today, GreenEDGE look good too.
But love Cav or loathe him, he’s special.
A demain.
Result - Le Tour de France 2012 - Stage 1
Stage Result
2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan
3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
4 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
5 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
8 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin – Sharp
9 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Sharp
10 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
11 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
12 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
13 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
14 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
15 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
16 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
17 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team
18 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
19 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar
20 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
21 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team
22 Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling
23 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre – ISD
24 Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
25 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
26 Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) Sky Procycling
27 Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
28 Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan
29 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
30 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
31 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
32 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin – Sharp
33 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
34 Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan
35 Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan
36 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
37 Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin – Sharp
38 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan
39 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
40 Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
41 Wout Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
42 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
43 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha Team
44 Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team
45 Dominik Nerz (Ger) Liquigas-Cannondale
46 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Astana Pro Team
47 Koen De Kort (Ned) Argos – Shimano
48 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha Team
49 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:00:14
50 Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
51 Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:00:17
52 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
53 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team
54 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
55 Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
56 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Katusha Team 0:00:21
57 Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
58 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 0:00:23
59 Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
60 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
61 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
62 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar Team
63 Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan
64 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team
65 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar
66 Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Team Europcar
67 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
68 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha Team
69 Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha Team
70 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
71 Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
72 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team 0:00:40
73 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
74 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 0:00:45
75 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
76 Jorge Azanza Soto (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
77 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre – ISD
78 Yann Huguet (Fra) Argos – Shimano
79 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Movistar Team
80 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
81 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre – ISD 0:00:55
82 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
83 Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan
84 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team
85 Federico Canuti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:05
86 Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:16
87 Roy Curvers (Ned) Argos – Shimano
88 Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
89 Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro Team
90 Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar
91 Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team
92 Simone Stortoni (Ita) Lampre – ISD
93 Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Argos – Shimano
94 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:01:20
95 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:01:25
96 Christophe Kern (Fra) Team Europcar
97 Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
98 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
99 Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar
100 Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:01:52
101 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 0:02:02
102 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:07
103 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
104 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
105 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
106 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
107 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
108 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling Team
109 Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
110 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar Team
111 Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin – Sharp
112 Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Katusha Team
113 Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale
114 Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
115 Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
116 Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
117 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team Europcar
118 David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
119 Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
120 Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
121 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJ-Big Mat
122 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
123 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) RadioShack-Nissan
124 Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
125 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team
126 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
127 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
128 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling
129 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
130 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
131 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Argos – Shimano
132 George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team
133 Davide Vigano (Ita) Lampre – ISD
134 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
135 Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team
136 Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team
137 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
138 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
139 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre – ISD
140 Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
141 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
142 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
143 Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan 0:03:01
144 Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Argos – Shimano
145 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
146 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
147 Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
148 Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
149 Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
150 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
151 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team
152 Brice Feillu (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
153 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
154 Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol Team
155 David Millar (GBr) Garmin – Sharp
156 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
157 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin – Sharp 0:03:32
158 Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin – Sharp
159 Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 0:03:41
160 Albert Timmer (Ned) Argos – Shimano
161 Tom Veelers (Ned) Argos – Shimano
162 Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling
163 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Lampre – ISD
164 Joan Horrach Rippoll (Spa) Katusha Team
165 Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Belisol Team
166 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team
167 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Belisol Team
168 Stephen Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing Team
169 Yohann Gene (Fra) Team Europcar
170 Julien Fouchard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
171 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
172 Alexandr Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
173 Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
174 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
175 Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Cofidis