Peter Sagan back in action at Tirreno-Adriatico sprint: "It could have been better, it could have been worse"

At Tirreno-Adriatico today Tim Merlier took the race's first bunch sprint which ended in a fast and chaotic run-up to Sovicille. It was a finale very well suited to Peter Sagan, and today he has showed good legs as he came back to contesting for wins at the big stage.

The start of the season was not good for Peter Sagan, as he dealt with another bout of Covid-19 through the winter and had a slow start to the season at Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var and the opening weekend, however things seem to be starting to flow at TotalEnergies in this finale: "Fourth place? It could have been better, it could have been worse. They had the speed coming from behind.”

“It was important to be at the front in the final three kilometers. The team did a great job supporting me and they left me in perfect position," he added. With a very narrow and furious sprint finish, the French team was stacked at the front and managed to position Sagan right in the wheel of Davide Ballerini who was in second place coming into the sprint. He went on to finish a strong fourth place which is by far the best result of his season so far.

At Terni tomorrow, and San Benedetto del Tronto on the final day, Sagan will have two more chances to go for results, which seems like a very realistic ambition at this point. With his first big goal of the season, Milano-Sanremo, in just over a week's time, the Slovakian champion will have some pressure to gather some good form and results this week.