At 35, Slovak cyclist Peter Sagan will undergo a second heart operation in two months. 4 months before the Games, he still hopes to be able to participate in the mountain bike event.
Triple world champion on the road, the Slovakian Peter Sagan announced his retirement from road cycling at the end of last year, to concentrate on what will perhaps be the last major challenge of his career: the Paris Olympic Games next summer, in mountain biking. However, the road seems increasingly difficult for the seven-time winner of the green jersey of the Tour de France. Already having heart surgery last February after a tachycardia, the Slovak announced on Sunday March 17 on his Instagram account a second operation to come next week. “While I was training on the rocky trails in Marseille, my heart suffered a few shocks. Nothing to worry about, you could say my heart needs a pit stop. I’m going to have surgery next week and thanks to my friend, sports cardiologist Dr. Roberto Corsetti, I’m sure I’ll be back in the saddle very soon.”
At 34, Peter Sagan hopes to return to the highest level with his childhood sweetheart. European and world mountain bike champion as a junior, he only took the turn towards the road late in his career. Already at the Rio Games in 2016 he took part in the mountain bike event. He then finished 35th, weighed down by several punctures.
This second operation for Sagan could compromise this goal of a medal in July in Paris. While the Slovak had resumed training at the beginning of March and was preparing for the first round of the French MTB Cup in Marseille, this new operation could delay his start at the MTB World Cup, which begins on April 12 in Brazil. . This first step is however important for Peter Sagan, who has not yet validated his qualifying ticket for the Games event.