Despite not having won the Queen of the Classics last Sunday, nor finishing on the podium, Peter Sagan called his appearance at the Paris-Roubaix a ‘demonstration’ right after the brutal race came to its conclusion. And perhaps it indeed was a one, considering that the 24-year old Slovak faced a wave of huge criticism following his below-par performances at the Milano-Sanremo and Ronde van Vlaanderen. The Cannondale Procycling manager, Roberto Amadio, point out that only the experience which comes with certain age would help Sagan to dominate in the cycling monuments, just as it helped Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) this season.

Constantly being under a huge pressure, Sagan claimed that his main goal during this classics season was to gain valuable experience for the future.

“I finished the first part of my season with a positive signal,” Sagan said. “Not all the races finished as I expected, but anyway it was a good experience.”

Even though the 24-year old Cannondale leader failed to claim the podium spot at the Paris-Roubaix this season, he managed to overcome early setbacks to animate the second part of the spectacle with his aggressive showing. Thus, Slovakian rider expressed satisfaction with his performance, still mud-crusted just after crossing the finish line on the famous velodrome.

“I’m satisfied for my place, even if didn’t win or get on the podium,” he said. “Given what I accomplished today, after a long campaign in the North, I’m fine. Now I know I can be competitive in race like this. I know I can improve.”

However, the Cannondale manager Robert Amadio believes that lack of experience and some tactical astuteness is what prevents Sagan from taking spoils in his first monument, as the Slovakian rider needs to learn how to distribute the energy more wisely on the long and demanding courses.

“He needs to improve his tactics in the key moments of these races. These are things that you understand with the passing years by making mistakes,” Cannondale manager Roberto Amadio told VeloNews.

“When it all comes easily — which it seems it did in the last four years — everything seems normal. That moment that it doesn’t come easily, you have to rely on experience and on maturity. You have to use your smarts, when to stay on the wheel instead of attacking.”

Even though Sagan’s relentless attacks inside the last 50 kilometers of the Paris-Roubaix probably cont him a podium spot, leaving the Cannondale leader unable to compete with Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano), Cancellara and Vanmarcke (Belkin) in the final sprint, it still brought a better outcome than staying on the wheel of Trek Factory Rider in De Ronde one week ealier, to be eventually dropped on the final ascents.

“You need to be mature. You need physical and above all, mental strength,” Amadio continued.

“Cancellara showed that. He won Flanders last week more on experience than legs. He was not Cancellara from the past, who was a level above the others. With his experience, though, he was able to rise above.”

“Cancellara is 33 years old, though, and he already has that experience. Peter has to keep on insisting and believing that he can win these classics.”

Despite criticizing some of tactical choices the Cannondale leader took in the classics, Amadio was pleased with Sagan’s performance in the cobbled events, since this spring season was all about gaining experience for the future.

“It doesn’t change anything if he failed to win a monument. It’s not a drama,” Amadio said.

“It’s been a positive campaign in the north. We’ll review it and try to improve.”

Differently than in previous year, the 24-year old Slovak will skip Ardennes classics to return to competition at the Amgen Tour of California in May.