A few months ago Peter Sagan was regarded as the big favourite for the World Championships road race. After a poor performance in the Vuelta a Espana, the Slovakian has dropped down the list of favourites and he admits to CyclingQuotes that he is no longer in the condition he had at the Tour de France.

Early in the year when the first national coaches travelled to Ponferrada, most of them reported that the race was tailor-made for Peter Sagan. With a circuit containing two climbs that are neither very long nor very steep and a downhill run to a flat finish, the course definitely suits the Slovakian’s characteristics.

During the last few weeks, the general perception has changed. After winning the green jersey at the Tour de France, Sagan lined up at the Vuelta a Espana with the goal of preparing for the Worlds which was set to be his final big target. However, the Slovakian rode a very anonymous race and when he finally joined a breakaway in the second week, he was the first rider to be caught. One day later he abandoned the race.

Last week Sagan lined up in the Coppa Bernocchi and the Coppa Agostoni. In the former race, he led Elia Viviani out to a sprint win while he was unable to stay with the best in the latter event, eventually abandoning the race.

The poor performances have had an effect. Sagan is no longer mentioned when riders are asked to select favourites for the road race and the Slovakian now seems to be more of an outsider than a genuine contender.

Today CyclingQuotes caught up with Sagan after he had done his recon of the course and he was his usual secretive self. However, he revealed that he expects the race to be a tough one.

“It’s hard,” he said of the course. “We will see with the weather and what the teams want to do. I think the finale will be very hard.”

Sagan refused to speculate about the possible race scenarios or whether the course was more suited to climbers or sprinters, but admitted that the course could be a good one for him. “If I feel good, yes,” he said.

However, Sagan is apparently not feeling too good at the moment. His poor performances seem to be no bluff.

“[I don’t feel] too good but we will see on Sunday,” he said.

Asked if he has maintained his Tour de France conditions, he bluntly refused that he is still at the formidable level that allowed him to win the green jersey for the third year in a row.

“I don’t think so,” he said.

Sagan may be playing down his chances but history shows that no one should ever underestimate the talented Slovakian. On this kind of course, Sagan will always be a contender. On Sunday, we will know whether he has been playing games with the press for the last few weeks.