After a disappointing E3 Harelbeke, many are wondering what has happened to Peter Sagan. Even his own team are beginning to think that something is going wrong with the Slovakian star.

“It’s shit because in that group of three he should’ve been the fastest,” Tinkoff sports director, Tristan Hoffman told VeloNews.

“He was so disappointed. Then, to make it worse, [the] whole group passes him.”

Hoffman explained that despite not doing anything drastic once he made the final trio, Sagan all of a sudden felt empty with nothing left.

“He hadn’t done anything crazy on the front, but suddenly he went empty,” Hoffman added. “Of course, he was one hour at his maximum to stay on the front and that’s how it is.”

“He also had it before in Strade Bianche, so it’s not the terrain or his experience,” Hoffman continued.

“It wasn’t a hunger flat. That’s what you’d think it is, but he said, ‘I’ve been eating and that’s not a problem.’ For sure, Bobby Julich, his trainer, and the others will talk. Of course, we will analyze the race and try to do better.”

Hoffman says that Sagan hasn’t had a slower win rate due to becoming a worse rider, but that everyone else has reached his level now.

“Some riders need to fight for four years to get to a certain level, but Peter comes in and he’s the best, but now the others moved up to that level,” Hoffman said.

“He’s not worse. He’s still an extraordinary rider in the peloton even if he doesn’t win as often as before.

“It will come again. He’s a professional, he really wants to improve, he doesn’t just want to sit and leave it how it is. He wants it, and the team wants it, no doubt about it.”

However, Hoffman said he doesn’t doubt his star and believes he can win big races.

“Peter has the condition, no doubt,” Hoffman added, “but now we have to work to make sure he gets his head turned around so that he believes in it and in his chances to win races.”