Cannondale Pro Cycling rider determined to leave mark on race, Caruso will target GC for Cannondale Pro Cycling
Having had an outstanding season thus far with numerous strong results, as well as his second consecutive Maillot Vert win at the Tour de France, Peter Sagan remains hungry and wants to keep clocking up notable performances.
The Slovakian rider has travelled to the US in advance of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and, knowing that the race is a very important one for his Cannondale sponsors, is gunning to perform very strongly in the 2.HC event.
Aside from the satisfaction of taking strong results in the race, he also has the additional motivation that a good ride there could set him up for a very strong end of season.
“It's always a great pleasure for me to race in the United States,” Sagan said, thinking back to previous times racing there, including an outstanding five stage victories in last year’s Tour of California.
“I like how people enjoy the event, their warmth and their support. This gives me a big push to express myself at my best.”
Sagan took a break from competition after the Tour and then got back into racing. He travelled to the US on August sixth and has been working hard since then, getting ready for the upcoming event.
“The RideLondon Classic was the first race after my return to the peloton and it was normal to have a hard time,” he said, accepting that he didn’t perform as well as possible. “For USA Pro Challenge, I expect better condition and good race legs.
“I decided to come to Colorado almost two weeks ago to train and prepare for the race in the best way. To be competitive is my first goal, as well as prepare for the final part of the season. I want to find the right form and the confidence to achieve great results.”
While Sagan is the team’s best opportunity for stage wins, there are others on the squad who are also ambitious.
Directeur sportif Stefano Zanatta explained how he believed the various riders would be able to leave their own mark. “We lined-up a team well suited to achieve our goals for the race. For Sagan, Colorado could be the launch pad for the final part of the season. He's done one race since the Tour, but there are a lot of good chances for him,” he said. [Damiano] Caruso and [Alessandro] De Marchi have the right characteristics to do well in the GC. Damiano already knows the race and Alessandro can take advantage of good form coming from the Tour de France.”
The trio will be joined in the bright green jerseys of Cannondale Pro Cycling by Ted King, Fabio Sabatini, Nariyuki Masuda, Sagan’s brother Juraj, plus the Italian stagiaire Davide Villella, who is lining out in the first race of his trial.
Caruso feels up to the task of chasing a strong overall result. He has prior experience of the race, having taken second and third on stages last year, and will draw on that to try to make a big push in the general classification.
“When I feel good, it's just a push to do my best,” he stated, showing the importance of morale and self belief. “In July, I worked hard and now I have good form to face this challenge. I really want to race and be competitive for the GC.”
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge begins in six days’ time and runs for a week.