TDU 2017: World champion Peter Sagan arrives in Adelaide to prepare for flying start to season

PETER Sagan has long been the cyclist Tour Down Under organisers have wanted. And not just for his super riding skills.

Peter Sagan, the headline act for the TDU, and his wife Katarina make a new friend (from the Native Animal Network) at 2KW. Picture: Sarah Reed

PETER Sagan has long been the cyclist Tour Down Under organisers have wanted.

The Slovakian powerhouse is a gun on the bike. He has worn the rainbow jersey as the world road race champion for the past two years and the Tour de France green sprinter’s jersey has been his since 2012.

But it is the exposure Sagan’s presence will bring to the TDU next month which excites those in charge. The man has 635,000 followers on Instagram, a few more on Twitter, and is a massive sporting name in Europe with a rock star reputation.

Sagan arrived in Australia on Wednesday morning, escaping the cold of his homeland to kick off preparations for another lengthy season which starts with his assault on the TDU from January 17. The field will tune up for the opening stage in the People’s Choice Classic in Adelaide’s East End two days earlier.

This will be his second appearance in South Australia, having made his ProTour race debut in the TDU in 2010. That race gave him immediate belief in his talents.

“I remember there were good riders here and I was able to stay in front with the best riders,” Sagan said. “It made me understand I could be good in pro cycling.

“Being here in 2010 was a very good start to the season, I’m very glad to come back (to Adelaide). The weather is very bad in Europe and I can train here, I can relax and not have the pressure of what I am going to do today because it is raining or snowing.

“With the good weather here I can train very well, it is better than being on the home trainer in my home.”

Tinkoff’s Peter Sagan, left, outsprints Team Katusha’s Alexander Kristoff to win Stage 16 of the 2016 Tour de France. Picture: Chris Graythen (Getty Images)

Sagan was in Adelaide for just the day before travelling interstate with his wife Katarina. He has switched teams and will ride with Bora-Hansgrohe with a salary rumoured to be more than $8 million a year.

The team will be in Adelaide on January 5 although its line-up has yet to be revealed.

“We had a training camp in December and it was very good,” Sagan said. “It is a German team and a very good organisation.

“The cycling season is very long, I want to train well here and the start (to the season) is very important. The TDU will be a high level because it is a world tour race and I just want to do my best with the team.

“It is a very good way to start the season.”

TDU race director Mike Turtur has worked overtime to lure Sagan back to Adelaide and he said any organisation would be honoured to have the world champion compete.

“With Peter you have got the complete package, people love the way he races,” Turtur said. “He is very aggressive.”

Originally published as TDU 2017: World champion Peter Sagan arrives in Adelaide to prepare for flying start to season