Keith99

Countries that have won hte TDF since the last French winner that is!

Or will it be the Dutch or Swiss?

chasm54

Do you see Sagan as a GC contender? He's certainly mighty impressive, but I can't see it myself, because he doesn't seem to be much of a time-triallist; and since he's unlikely ever to be an absolutely top climber, that seems to me to rule him out. I see him as a potential monster in the Classics, though.

To answer the rest of your question, what about Canada?

eja_ bottecchia

I think that an American, like Van Garderen or a Frenchman like Rolland or Pinot stand a better chance than Sagan.

Sagan, however, is pretty exciting to watch.

canam73

Personally, if I were him I would set my sights on something more exclusive: winning all five monuments.

I think his natural tools set is better suited to it than grand tour GC. Don't get me wrong, it would still be a long shot, but damn, only 3 others have done it.

DiabloScott

I would really love to see that too. He can start with Lombardia this year. Bonus - he could do it in the rainbow jersey.

He was also 5th in his very first Ronde... come on.

ultraman6970

HE has to learn how to sprint, he lost the final stage because he was waiting open mouth drooling while cav was like 20 meters ahead of him. He has to sprint long and in the front an nobody will be able to pass him the kid is too strong.

Laggard

I don't see him as a pure sprinter. In my eyes he is more like a Boonen or Hushovd. Both very fast but not in the same class as a Cavendish.

Jed19

I do not think Sagan is that far away from Cav as a sprinter. As mentioned, he needs more experience. Did you see the ground he made up in that final sprint in Paris to take second place? Twenty or so more meters, he'll have caught Cav.

canam73

If the finish was 20m father Cav would have timed his sprint for that point. As it was he probably went a bit early and was already fading when Sagan surged.

And I'm a Sagan fan.

Jed19

Maybe.

And Sagan had no lead-out train.

canam73

True. But I believe Nibali is leaving so unless they sign a major GC contender maybe Sagan will get some more attention this year.

diphthong

sagan seems to have enough talent that i feel he can accomplish (eventually) whatever he targets. all 5 monuments would be fantastic. were he to attempt the conversion to a
potential gc contender, i wouldn't bet against him. he wouldn't be the first rider to 'morph' into a different style rider a la wiggins, hincapie, laurent jalabert, et al...

YMCA

He beat Cancellara for the win at the Tour de Suisse in a solid TT

chasm54

More of a prologue than a TT, wasn't it? Just a few Km? But you may be right, he may get better at the longer stuff.

nun

Sagan could do well in the one day Classics and obviously he's a good sprinter. But he'll have to change his physique to ride well in the high mountains day after day. This all assumes he doesn't burn out or get derailed by the desire for Porsches and the opportunities to sign fans' chests.

mmmdonuts

Sagan for P-R, G-W, RVV. It's gonna happen!

YMCA

MSR up his alley for sure

Keith99

I honestly do not see himn as a GC contender for now. But I see him as having hte base ability that could make him one in 5 years or so. The traditional pattern was classics first then Tour contender later as one matures.

I felt Sagan was a good lead in as he is in hte spotlight and he could be a GC contender in a few years. So he serves to illustrate that there is not a Frenchman who would eb expected to win before then.

Flaneur

Too soon to say, isn't it? Sagan has a ton of talent and a killer instinct- but is not going to mature into both a prolific stage racer and classic winner. If he did, we'd be talking Bernard Hinault talent- and I think that's way too much praise, for what we've seen so far. At the moment, he reminds me of Sean Kelly.

Definitely one of the most interesting storylines for the next five years.

Farby

This 100%

DiabloScott

He reminds me more of Bettini.

daveF

Same thing was said of Cancellara for years. If he transforms himself into a grand tour GC rider, his performance in the classics & sprints will suffer. Why change something now that he is best at? Doubt his trainer or DS would encourage that. But apparently most cycling fans think less of someone who is not trying to make themselves a GC contender no matter how good they are in other areas.

canam73

So when is Cav going stop effing around and transform himself into a gc contender?

YMCA

ha
when pigs fly?

canam73

He lost some weight this year.