World champion Peter Sagan is approaching the new season in a relaxed way. This week he did a few rides with the fans in the United States and spoke to the press.  Between the obligations and relaxation, he looked even further ahead towards the new season with Bora-ansgrohe. He made it clear which races he has red-circled.

At 26 years of age, Peter Sagan has already won a lot. Since he turned pro in 2010, he has won seven stages and five consecutive green jerseys in the Tour de France, he has been world champion twice and he has won classics like the Tour of Flanders, E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem. He has picked up four stage victories in the Vuelta, five in Tirreno-Adriatico, thirteen in the Tour of Switzerland, fifteen in the Tour of California and has taken victories in WorldTour races like Quebec and Montreal.

The question is: which goals does the Slovakian have for 2017?

"From the beginning of the season, I will focus on the classics," Sagan said when he spoke to the press during a weekend of sponsor commitments in Westlake Village, California. "I will be happy with whatever I win. Roubaix ... because I have already won the Tour of Flanders ... If I could win De Ronde again, I would be happy but if I could win Roubaix it would be better because I have never won that race. "

It is clear: Sagan wants to score on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix where his sixth place in 2014 is his best. The Hell of the North will be held on April 9 in 2017 and is the last race of four-time winner Tom Boonen...

Of the other classics, he seems to be slightly less fond of Milan-Sanremo.

"Sanremo is important and I will be happy if I could win there but Sanremo is a lottery. I've tried every year to win Sanremo but I won two World Championships. What is most important? I will try, but in the race you can make one bad move and it's over. That’s how the race is. You ride for six hours but it can be over in three seconds. "

From January 1, 2017, Sagan will be riding for Bora-hansgrohe.

"I not only chose the money," said Sagan about the somewhat surprising choice of the smaller Bora-hansgrohe. "I wanted to bring a group with me and in large teams, everything is planned and organized. But the race, your team is very important and I wanted to bring my sports director, coach, some riders, mechanics and a masseuse with me. After seven years as a pro, I've discovered what is most important: that I feel good in the team. And here I can also ride mountain bike races although we'll see if there's time for that. "

Of course the Tour de France and a sixth green jersey is also on his mind in his plans ("I will become record holder alongside Erik Zabel") but asked about his favorite races, he points to other races: "The Worlds of course. And the Tour of Flanders ... "