World champion Peter Sagan believes tactics will play no part in Sunday’s 100th edition of the prestigious Tour of Flanders. The Tinkoff leader, who tasted victory in the rainbow jersey when he earned a spot on the top step of the podium at Gent-Wevelgem, wants to shine again on Sunday.
"The Tour of Flanders is extremely important. It’s one of the three races that I would like to put on my palmarès, like Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix. I'm already six years trying to win this mega prize, but it’s not easy", he explained according to Het Nieuwsblad. "Belgian races are more difficult than the others: the right strategy does not exist. It’s no coincidence that the record holders for the Tour of Flanders have only won it three times. If you take Milan-San Remo, you’ll have fifty riders together for the last two climbs. At the Ronde, you can have just two riders in front on the last time over the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg. It’s totally different."
Second in 2013 and fourth last time out, Sagan has proved on multiple occasions he can scale the short, steep cobbled climbs of Flanders at the front of the race – now he’s out to win it.
"It's not like I’m going to Flanders or Roubaix with the idea that the world will end on Monday. I try to relax. I don’t stress myself with things like: 'I have to stay back there or be up front there'."
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