Peter Sagan is not the only Slovakian with multiple high placings in races this season. Tinkoff-Saxo’s Michael Kolar has been riding exceptionally well in the sprints and Sagan’s old classmate is starting to have his share of the limelight.

“I started mountain biking in Canada, I continued in Slovakia and I rode for the same junior team as Peter,” Kolar said. “He’s two years older than me but I always rode with him and his brother Juraj.”

Kolar has nothing but praise for his friend and fondly jokes about him: “He was always a superbly over the top guy.” Sagan usually does something crazy to celebrate a win (note the “Running Man, Hulk and Bow and Arrow celebrations, the pinched bottom and signed breast incidents and the multiple wheelies he performs). All of these make Sagan one of cycling's biggest and most loved stars.

Giovanni Lombardi, Peter Sagan’s agent, tried to find Kolar a team and there were many takers but the economic crisis forced many of the potential deals to be cancelled. “It was probably the worst year for me to turn pro,” Kolar admitted.

But Bjarne Riis took a chance on the young man and should be very proud of him. Despite the elusive win evading him, he has taken many vital UCI points that could help his team in races later in the season by virtue of his high placings in sprints. For example, car placings are drawn on UCI points and in a Classic, the ability of a car to get to the rider and help him with a mechanical in time is critical.

“He’s doing well and he’s [21] years old,” Tinkoff sport director Tristan Hoffman said. “He has power in the sprints and he has the fitness and the mental strength. He will only improve.”

Hoffman insists that Kolar will adapt to the speeds of the pro peloton and will lose weight, making him even faster. He will be at prestigious races such as Gent-Wevelgem, The Tour of Falnders and Paris-Roubaix potentially.

Kolar plays down any potential match up with Sagan and challenging him for victories just yet, saying:

“I want to do good in sprints, which is what I’m doing right now. I hope to keep up my good form,” Kolar said.

“What I learned in the amateur races is that I need good positioning and timing to pull off a win. It’s the same in the professionals but you are going a lot faster!”

All the same, Kolar v Sagan in the Slovakian Road Race Championships in June will be interesting to watch. And it wont be as one sided as many people may think.