Sagan: Attack is the best defence

Sagan wins the Hell of the North race after a strong attack, receiving his second-ever Monument title.

Peter SaganPeter Sagan (Source: AP/TASR)

Slovak cyclist Peter Sagan has added another important victory to his record: the Hell of the North race, Paris-Roubaix.

After a phenomenal 55-kilometre escape he beat Silvan Dillier in the spurt.

It is Sagan’s second win in the ‘monuments’, cycling’s five most prestigious one-day races. He won the first title at the Tour of Flanders in 2016.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

“I feel amazing,” said Sagan, as quoted by the BBC. “I’m so tired but I was involved in no crashes, had no flat tyres and I just kept going.”

Read also: Clear, unanimous, and indisputable: Sagan is the best Read more 

He also thanked his teammates from Bora Hansgrohe, as “they did a great job keeping everyone together and in the end I made the winning move”.

SkryťTurn off ads

The team had a great strategy, compared with other races: they tried to keep the favourites in one group and mar the chances of their rivals to escape. As a result, Sagan got a great lead when he speeded up 55 kilometres before the finish line, the Sme daily reported.

“Sometimes attack is the best defence,” Sagan said before the race, as quoted by Sme.

However, the race was later overshadowed by the death of Belgian cyclist Michael Goolaerts, who died after a crash during the race.

Top stories

Slovakia marks 20 years since joining NATO.

Slovakia marks 20 years in the Alliance.


Daniel Hoťka and 1 more
Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad