Less than 12 months after taking the rainbow jersey, Peter Sagan (Slovakia) took his next major international championship win when he took a dominant victory at the European Championships. Despite limited team support, he turned out to be in a class of his own in the uphill sprint on the Cote de Cadoudal where he easily beat Julian Alaphilippe (France) and Daniel Moreno (Spain) into the minor podium positions.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Peter Sagan: This jersey is an insurance if I lose the rainbow jersey

Already the UCI world road race champion, Peter Sagan today added another title to his palmares by winning the inaugural elite European road race championships in Plumelec, France. Racing in the national colours of Slovakia, Sagan finished the race with a perfectly timed sprint after a tough day in the saddle culminating with the climb of Cadoudal to the line.

 

After the race, a clearly delighted Sagan was keen to thank his countrymen for their hard work during the race.

 

"I'm extremely happy to be the first ever European Road Champion and it's an honour for me to take the Slovak colors to the highest spot of the podium. As expected, it was a long and tough race, but in the final lap my legs were strong and I thought I had what it took to jump at the opportunity when it arose.

 

“I waited until I felt the timing was right to attack and take my chance, although it wouldn't have been possible without the dedicated work of all my Slovak team-mates. I dedicate this victory to them as well as the entire country of Slovakia and I congratulate all riders of Tinkoff for their effort in this European Championship.

 

"Since it’s the first time the European title is open to Elite riders, I’m very happy to be the winner.  It was a very fast race with a hard climb to finish, but it was a great course for me. There were two ways to win it: enter a breakaway or wait for the final sprint. I’m glad we chose the second option, and I thank the boys from Slovakia for helping me. This time we were a team of six, not three like usually at the world championship, so we were able to race as a team.

 

"Slovakia had nothing to lose. Had the European championship taken place in Nice as it was planned, I wouldn’t have participated for sure, but when I heard it was going to be here, I thought it was a great opportunity and I decided to come two weeks ago. I’m glad I chose to do it even though I have very little time to enjoy my victory because I have to go to the Eneco Tour to chase WorldTour points. I believe the Eneco Tour will also be a good preparation for the Worlds.  But I especially want to score points for the World Tour ranking. For the Worlds we'll see. I'm already very proud of my season and it will not be easy to be fresh in mid-October. At worst, I will wear the European jersey.

 

”I’ll take a bit of a rest in the meantime. The European champion jersey is an insurance for next year. If I don’t retain the rainbow jersey, I’ll be happy to wear this one.

 

“It’s already been a too long season. From January to mid-October… what to expect in mid-October, I don’t know. It can’t go bad for me in Qatar anyway. If I win again, it’ll be something extra, but otherwise it doesn’t matter because I’ve already won more than I could expect this year.”
 

Alaphilippe: Sagan is beatable

"Sagan is beatable," Julian Alaphilippe said. "He’s human but he’s also an exceptional rider. I’m aware that I’m second behind the best cyclist of our generation. I can’t be completely satisfied to come second, but I can’t be disappointed with the silver medal today. We rode well as a team. We were very motivated by this European championship and we took our responsibilities."

 

”We gave the maximum today,” he told Directvelo. “We did not have any regrets. At the bootm of the last climb we had our three cards. It was a hard sprint. The strongest won. I did my best, I'm still glad I got this silver medal for France. 

 

”I'm really happy with the how we raced and I think we achieved a good part of our goal. It was a home race and it was the first European Elite Championships in Plumelec, with a very strong and motivated team so naturally we wanted to win. But second place is still a satisfaction. It is the World Champion that wins and I hope that this second place will serve me for the rest of my career.

 

“Even when the 17 group attacked in the end, we were always in a strong position. We never panicked and responded well. Tactically we rode well, so the sprint was inevitable. We have done nothing wrong. On the last climb, it is decided in the head The legs are burning, but it is the case for everyone. I fought with Moreno for seconds and it was decided by the head as we were at an equal level. 

 

“These results show that I still have to work and improve. I race to win, so although it's a bit annoying to be second, it must serve me in my progress.

 

“I already know that I will not be at the Worlds. The Doha circuit is absolutely not for me so I have no interest in going there. I feel pretty good so I'll enjoy my form, and I would like to finish my season at the Tour of Lombardy, where I will give a hand to Dan Martin to get the win. 

 

Dumoulin: We were beaten by a legend

"I'm happy for the team of France and a little disappointed because personally I would have liked to accompany Julian Alaphilippe on the podium,” fourth-placed Samuel Dumoulin said. “The team of France did everything to shine and lost to a legend, Peter Sagan. The atmosphere in the team of France was great, the public has pushed us and while we are perfectionists and we dream to do better, we must enjoy such days. “

 

"There was a lot of headwind in open section, everyone was tired in the final,” he told Directvelo. “I told Tony (Gallopin) to take the wheel of guys who could attack like Gilbert or Rui Costa. Then I told Julian (Alaphilippe) to stay in touch with the first and not look after me. It was not easy because we were three. I was a little afraid to get boxed in in the final 400m. I also hesitated to sacrifice myself for Julian. It was hard, I stayed in contact. I tried to move up in the final meters but with the tailwind it was complicated. Finally, we had no real tactics, it was decided by the legs and there is no regret to have. Sagan made his acceleration when he wanted and he was winning. The only small problem for me is not to be on the podium with Julian.

 

“It was not necessarily much faster than at the GP Plumelec, where we do the small circuit and where the climb returns much faster. In the feed zone, the peloton got stretched out it made ​​things complicated for those behind. It was the seventh time that I rode with the jersey of the French team, but to do it in France is unique in a career. I had fun and I am very happy to have participated. I was well prepared, and I'm glad to see that after 15 years of career I can still hav that kind of goals, progress and enjoy myself on the bike. Now I will await the outcome of Isbergues to see what the classification of the Coupe de France is, and then we'll go to the Tour de Vendée, Paris-Bourges and then proceed to the next year.”

 

He later said:

 

“Regarding the Coupe de France, I am one point ahead of Baptiste Planckaert. If you look on the bright side, I am still the leader. Everything will decided at the Tour de Vendée, October 2.  If Baptiste Planckaert is starting, it will be a lot of pressure. It is a finish that suits me and it will be aggressive.”
 

French coach: To beat Sagan, everybody had to ride against him

French national coach Bernard Borreau told Directvelo.

 

“I have to be satisfied with three riders in the first seven. Everyone did his job in the team. Our three major cards were there at the finish and this is what we wanted. We are beaten by the world champion, there's no shame in that. Sagan is unbeatable! We had to isolate him but how? That would have required all teams to conspire against him. Unfortunately everyone pulled against each other and took him to the finish. As usual.

 

When the four escapees left, we had to see which teams would chase. Being at home, we felt that he had to do it and I think we had no other choice. In the last five laps, we hoped for more attacks. That said it's still a difficult circuit and a nation was always missing in the attempts.

 

”I am very happy. Second behind Sagan is a performance. I do not think we missed the European Championship. We did not win but we fulfilled our contract.”

 

Moreno: If you see how easily Sagan won, there is nothing to complain about

They were only four at the start, yet they featured more prominently that numbers could tell. And they got back home with another medal. It was an excellent close to the European Championships for the Movistar Team riders taking part in the races at Plumelec (Brittany, France) this long weekend, as Dani Moreno claimed bronze behind Peter Sagan (SVK) and Julien Alaphilippe (FRA) after a long (232.9km), yet not-so-steep circuit around the Côte de Cadoudal. As the race was always coming together, the veteran Madrilian knew where and how to profit from his terminal velocity in difficult finishes.

 

Rubén Fernández - involved in a crash, fortunately with no consequences, on the penultimate lap - and Giovanni Visconti promptly responded to the domestique work they were asked to do by their home nations, and anticipated in the last two loops around the finish at full speed, with a 20-man break (including Visconti) and a lone move by Moser (ITA) adding spice to the inevitable group finish. Well led out by David de la Cruz, Moreno tackled the last 1.8km uphill always at the front, and even launched the sprint himself. He was beaten, only through the last 100 meters, by a superior Sagan and Alaphilippe, who had to wait for the photo-finish to confirm his silver medal.

 

Dani Moreno said:

 

"It would have been nice to see the photo-finish, because the silver medal was so close and I think Alaphilippe only beat me by a nail and into the very last meter. The Spanish team worked really well: we took care of all main moves so we didn't have to work chasing behind, and in the end, it was down to Luis León Sánchez and myself searching for a good finish, with the energies we had left, on the last climb.

 

"I took that third place, though I'd have liked to jump a little before I did. I got a bit boxed in on the penultimate straight, and I had to stop and almost come to a halt before the jump. The right thing to try and surprise Sagan in such finishes, so favourable to him, is to time your effort well, make it a long one and push hard. That third place was just out of good legs - I'd have loved to have a better push to the line and improve that result.

 

"All in all, it's been a good week for both the team and the national squad. We're happy that we took these two medals in the first ever pro Euro Champs.”

 

”It’s a good result and I'm happy,” he told Directvelo. “Honestly, I think it was difficult to hope to do better today. When we see the ease with which Peter Sagan wins, there is not much to complain about.

 

“We knew that it was going to be difficult. There was a lot of competition and it was not written that we returned to Spain with a medal. But the selection here was interesting, with many riders fit and motivated. Finally, we did that we could.

 

”We had several cards to play. Of course, I had ambition bt there were also other Spanish riders to get a result. Let's say I was the leader in a sprint finish like that, because the final suited me well.

 

”I tried to anticipate by taking the last turn in front. But Peter Sagan was above the rest. He went like a motorcycle (smiles). It was closer with Julian Alaphilippe. I did not miss much. Maybe if we did the sprint again, I would fight harder, but he is a very strong rider and I am not surprised to see him on the podium. The Spanish team will be leaving with two medals in the Elite ranks since Jonathan Castroviejo won gold in the TT. This is a very good result for the first European Championship in the category. I am pleased to take this second medal for Spain.”
 

Gilbert apologizes to Meersman after disappointing result in Plumelec

Philippe Gilbert was the best Belgian in 8th.
 

“It's a big disappointment because we came with the ambition to do much better,” he told Directvelo. “I think the race rested on the shoulders of three countries: Belgium, France and Italy. These three nations did the chase to catch the early break. Eliot Lietaer rode for more than 100 kilometers.”

 

Belgium had Ben Hermans and Jelle Vanendert in a group of 18 riders with five laps to go

 

“It was a weird situation, because we had no assurance of victory in this group,” Gilbert said. “They were a bit isolated. I went to take to national coach Kevin De Weert in the car. We did not really have a choice. If we let the group with Vanendert-Hermans go, there were formidable riders there. He asked the team to ride except Gianni (Meersman) and me. We did very well afterwards.

 

“I think that if Gianni had done ​​his own sprint, he would certainly get a better result than me. He even got a small advantage. It is the disappointment of the day. I apologize to him. I am especially disappointed for that. I lack a result which is one thing but it is not pleasant that I take the place of another. I find it regrettable but of course we cannot predict in advance.

 

“My basic intention was to isolate Peter Sagan. This did not work. I believed in it with two laps to go. Well obviously, it was because of a crash but we ended up with three Belgians (Benoot, Hermans and Gilbert, ed) in front. The situation was good for us. I thought it was maybe a twist of fate. It is not good to take advantage of such incidents but part of the race. Unfortunately, nobody wanted to ride. France neutralized everything.”
 

Meersman: Maybe I could have played my personal card
Gianni Meersman told Directvelo:

 

"My task was to bring Philippe Gilbert to the last 200 meters by launching in the last 500 meters. I have met the expectations. I asked him how he felt during the race and he said he had good feelings. I felt better than I thought in the last lap. I saw he was not in my wheel. I might have been able to play my personal card today when I see how it went but it's easy to say afterwards. We cannot change anything. I'm not disappointed because I did what was expected of me."

 

Ben Hermans told Directvelo:

 

"I had good legs. I found myself in a group of eighteen riders. The goal was to end up with at least three Belgians and to break this group on the next climb, but the peloton caught us too quickly. The national coach did not know that I felt good at the time. I watched the riders in this group and I did not see any explosive riders like Diego Ulissi. I did not feel like the worst in this group. In other circumstances, I could go for the win on such a course. I followed the tactic defined by the team at the briefing. So I have nothing to reproach myself."

 

Tiesj Benoot told Directvelo:

 

"I had no great feelings but my form was sufficient to fulfill my task: to be present in the final lap and deliver my leaders at the bottom of the last climb of Cadoudal. My condition is good but I certainly hope to ramp up for the end of the season."

 

Jelle Vanendert  told Directvelo:

 

"I went on the attack at the time defined by the team, that is with five laps to go. When I saw the big nations start, I immediately made ​​the junction to avoid that Belgium was in trouble. There was virtually no cooperation in the leading group. We looked a lot at each other. Sometimes I found myself in front of the group without really wanting to. I have prepared the ground for my leaders.”

 

Belgian national coach Kevin De Weert told Directvelo:

 

“Everything went well until five laps to go. The goal was to reduce the gap to the leading group to a minute. Eliot Lietaer and Loic Vliegen perfectly did their job. Then Jelle Vanendert did exactly what he should by making an acceleration. We had ​​Ben Hermans, Jens Keukeleire, Jan Bakelants and Tiesj Benoot, but we had only two riders present in this group of 18. I am a bit disappointed of what happened at that time. I called Philippe Gilbert in the car to know how he felt. He said he had good legs. We decided to fully play his card. We closed the gap perfectly. Subsequently, we had three Belgians in the group of six, which should have stayed away In the last kilometer, the legs did the talking and Sagan was too strong. From the moment you you are not on the podium, the places of honour don’t matter.”
 

Moser nearly denies the favourites in Plumelec

Moreno Moser was caught on the final climb

 

"The plan for Moreno was to attack at that point or 2km from the finish. A decision was up to him, according to the feelings,” national coach Davide Cassani said. "We had to make it hard so as to best prepare the sprint for Ulissi and Colbrelli." 

 

“When I still had 30 seconds 6 kilometers from the finish, I thought I could make it. I felt fine and I tried. It is a time with good form and I'm enjoying it,” Moser said.

 

“I was in good shape but in the curve leading to the straight, my legs failed. I lost the right wheels,” Ulissi said.

 

"It 'was a good race,” said Cassani. “We did what we promised and frankly I cannot blame anyone.”