In order to help him win the Classics, Tinkoff-Saxo have been making subtle changes to Peter Sagan’s style.

“We can’t go into details, but of course, we have a new setup and we are working more professionally in training and coaching,” team manager Bjarne Riis told VeloNews. “Through the year, you should see progress.”

Sagan has plenty of one-day wins to his name, such as E3, Gent-Wevelgem, GP Montreal and GP Camaiore. But so far the Monuments, particularly Milan-Sanremo and Flanders, have evaded him. He has also finished second twice in the prestigious Strade Bianche twice in the last two years without winning.

Tinkoff-Saxo has also assembled a team around Sagan that they think is capable of delivering the Slovak superstar to the big wins he so badly desires. Sagan told VeloNews that he would rely mostly on teammates Matti Breschel, Maciej Bodnar, Chris Juul Jensen, Daniele Bennati, and Matteo Tosatto.

“When you have guys like Alberto Contador and Peter on the team then you have riders who need to win races. They should get the support, they deserve it. It’s not good enough just to have a rider without the right support around him,” Riis said.

“It’s my job to analyze a guy when he joins a team and to make him better. Peter’s a great guy with enormous potential. We are working on his position a lot, actually. He’s had some problems that we are helping him with.”

While there is pressure from everyone in cycling for Sagan to take a Monument this year, Riis himself says that there is no pressure coming from him or the team.

“The pressure’s not on him. No,” Riis said. “There are two types of pressure, the one you don’t need and the one you need and like to have to motivate you. You shouldn’t go into negative pressure, that’s not useful. And we all know in cycling that sometimes you are good, but you don’t win due to circumstances. As long as you’ve done the right things to be ready, at least you’ll have the opportunity.”