Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) has responded to criticism he has received in relation to a clash last Sunday with Belgian rider Maxime Vantomme (WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect) at Ghent-Wevelgem.

As the riders went over the Kemmelberg, Sagan is badly positioned as Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) and John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) go on the attack at the front of the bunch.

The UCI World Champion squeezes through a small gap to ride up alongside Vantomme. He then appears to use his shoulder to push the Belgian rider away.

The UCI World Champion tweeted: “I just saw the video of the contact with @MaximeVantomme at @GentWevelgem. I wasn’t aware of it. I’m sorry but these things happen in races.”

Sagan received criticism over the incident from a number of riders including Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale) and Bram Tankink (Team LottoNL-Jumbo).

“I saw it and thought I had not seen it properly,” said Naesen. “I then watched the footage again and that’s not nice. For me he would have lost a rib, for sure. I would have pushed back.”

“Sagan is twice World Champion and thinks he can pass anywhere,” said Tankink, “then pushes a rider from a small team.”

18 COMMENTS

  1. Eesssh.
    That did not look like something that “just happens” in a bike race.
    Looks like Sagan was frustrated at having to move through the numbers to get to the front and vented it on this guy.

  2. “Barely touched him ref!!!!!”

    Seriously though, that’s nothing compared to early season Cat 4 races (I don’t miss them). Barging, shoving, locking bars, and once saw two guys having a proper scrap mid peloton. It happens (it probably shouldn’t), but it’s racing.
    Also these guys are trying to keep a bike upright while smashing up a cobbled climb and not lose/ gain position. There’s bound to be a certain amount of jostling.

  3. That looked definitely intentional but if in a race, cannot sit quietly on the outside and expect others to look out for you… akin to road rage but it looks as though he was trying to create a gap where there wasn’t one previously

  4. Look, there are nice and bad things happening in the cycling. Peter Sagan have definitely brought to the world cycling new energy. There was something like boring cycling era 10 years before Peter entered into the world peloton. Just don’t try to drag something through muck on Peter’s head for only this one accident.

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