The UCI ESports World Championships crowned its 2024 rainbow jersey winners in October, with cycling stars such as Tadej Pogačar and Peter Sagan on hand to witness the historic first event held with a live audience. Sagan showed particular enthusiasm and could be seen growing increasingly enthralled by the burgeoning discipline.
The 34-year-old Slovak retired from the WorldTour at the end of 2023 after a long and storied career, which saw him win 12 individual stages at the Tour de France and the green points jersey on seven occasions. He also won three consecutive road world titles in 2015, 2016 and 2017. And among his long list of one-day race wins are the prestigious Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders classics.
“There’s no point to just race in a World Championships in ecycling for 50th place, or maybe worse, or ten positions better,” Peter Sagan dismissed during a press conference at the esports world championships, emphasizing that his presence in Abu Dhabi was merely ceremonial.
