Peter Sagan didn't rely on his sprint when he won the GP de Montreal on Sunday by launching a late attack on the final climb of the day. With the win, the Slovakian marked himself out as one of the outstanding favourites for the world championships and he reveals that he plans to apply a similar aggressive strategy in Florence in less than two weeks.

Last year Peter Sagan was one of the biggest favourites for the world championships but the versatile Slovakian never hit his best form in the autumn season. In the battle for the rainbow jersey, he faded out of contention the final time up the Cauberg and ended an insignificant 14th.

This year things are completely different. Sagan gas come out with all guns blazing in both the USA Pro Challenge and the Tour of Alberta but what has really marked him out as a danger man for the world championships was his dominant ride in Sunday's GP  de Monteal. Countering a move by crowd favourite Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin), he held a big portion of the world elite behind during the final 5km and took a fabulous solo win on a tough course that is not too different from the one used for the Worlds in Florence.

Two days earlier Sagan had raced very aggressively in the GP de Quebec and ran out of power in the final sprint. Having learnt from that experience, he gauged his effort much more carefully in Montreal and he plans to do apply a similar strategy in Florence where the 270km length will complicate things even further.

"It's a circuit where if you waste you're energy it'll be dangerous," he told the La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. "It's better with just one move, but a significant one."

All riders know that Sagan is virtually unbeatable in a sprint and so they will do their utmost to get rid of the Cannondale rider. Team support will play a crucial role for Sagan in his quest to control things but riding for Slovakia, he knows that he has a clear disadvantage.

"My chances at the World Championships are not so great because Slovakia is a small country and we don't have such a great team," he said. "It won't be easy in Florence. In fact, it is going to be a big challenge for me."

Sagan will mostly rely on the Velits brothers Peter and Martin in the race on September 29th. He will race the team time trial one week earlier as his last competitive outing ahead of the big day.