NewsBite

Peter Sagan and his German registered team BORA-Hansgrohe are scheduled to land at Adelaide Airport on Friday

Peter Sagan and his German BORA-Hansgrohe team set to be among the first Tour Down Under competitors to arrive in Adelaide on Friday night.

Santos Tour Down Under – Adelaide 2019

Peter Sagan has suggested that if anyone wants his undivided attention at the Santos Tour Down Under don’t ask him if he’s going to win, what the stages are like, what he eats and how he recovers each day.

Tour Down Under fans can get a first crack at keeping Sagan’s interest at its peak when he is among the first to arrive in preparation for the 21st edition of Australia’s coveted bike race on Friday night.

Sagan, 28, and his German registered team BORA-Hansgrohe are scheduled to land at Adelaide Airport with Belgian teams Deceuninck-Quick-Step and Lotto Soudal and US Team Education First.

Sagan wins 2018 Tour Down Under People's Choice Classic

“Also, can you win the Tour de France?’’ is another question Sagan loathes he told rouleur.cc

“Always the same questions.

“Are you going for a fifth green jersey, do you think you are going to win it?

“I’ve already won six. Then we stop already our interview, because they don’t know what to ask or they don’t study before.”

Sagan, a three-time UCI world champion and last year’s Paris-Roubaix champion will be in good company on the long haul flight to Adelaide.

Peter Sagan pictured before the EuroEyes CYCLASSICS 2018 in August. Picture: Getty Images
Peter Sagan pictured before the EuroEyes CYCLASSICS 2018 in August. Picture: Getty Images

He is tipped to be joined by Italian sprinter Elia Viviani, 2018 stage 3 Tour Down Under winner and multiple stage winner at the Giro D’Italia where he claimed the points classification last year.

Adopted South Aussie, Tasmanian Richie Porte’s new team Trek Segafredo on Thursday also confirmed the 2017 Tour Down Under general classification champion will return to the first UCI WorldTour event of the season.

Richie Porte of BMC crosses the finish line winning to win Stage 6 in Willunga in 2018. Picture: Sarah Reed
Richie Porte of BMC crosses the finish line winning to win Stage 6 in Willunga in 2018. Picture: Sarah Reed

Porte, 33, says he is aiming for — at the very least — a sixth consecutive Willunga Hill stage win.

“The Tour Down Under is always a goal for me in the start of the season and it’s a joy to race in Adelaide every January,’’ Porte said.

“Obviously, riding my first race with Trek-Segafredo in Australia, I will be extra motivated to start with a good showing on GC and hope to continue the Willunga success.

“There is to be a very strong bunch of GC favourites racing who want to win the race so I know I’ll need to be on top of my game and I will be!”

Porte’s team arrives on Sunday night along with SA gun, 2015 Tour Down Under champion Rohan Dennis’ new team, Bahrain-Merida, Groupama-FDJ, AG2R La Mondiale and Dimension Data.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/tourdownunder/peter-sagan-and-his-german-registered-team-borahansgrohe-are-scheduled-to-land-at-adelaide-airport-on-friday/news-story/04dfd047965619b5b66b23c06b5ef724