Peter Sagan announces retirement from road cycling to focus on MTB

Everything that Slovakian and three-time World Champion Peter Sagan has been anticipating during the best years of his career looks set to come true in the coming months. Sagan has just announced that 2023 will be his last year as a professional road cyclist and he will focus on mountain biking, at least until the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Peter Sagan hangs up his road bike to focus on mountain biking

During La Vuelta a San Juan, Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies) gave an interview to announce that 2023 will be his last year as a professional road cyclist. “I would like to say the moment has arrived. I decided I would like to finish this season as a rider in WorldTour races. I would like to prepare for the Olympic Games in mountain bike.”

Peter Sagan started his cycling career as a mountain biker and during his best years on the road he remembered several times that he enjoyed mountain biking the most and wanted to retire on the road.

"I always said I would like to finish my career on the mountain bike, because I started my career on the mountain bike. It gives me some pleasure at the end of my career because I’m doing something I really enjoy. It was never my dream to race or to be a professional rider until 40 or 50. I think it’s time now. And if I am going to be able to finish my career in Paris at the Olympics Games, that’s going to be something nice for me."

Sagan has already participated in the Rio 2026 Olympic Games in the MTB category and even managed to stay ahead for several laps until he was sidelined by punctures. But he has made it clear that for Paris 2024 his intention is not to compete for medals but to enjoy himself.

“It’s not about the medal or something. It’s more about what I want to do. There’s not pressure anymore about whether I win or lose. It’s just something I always wanted, to finish my career on mountain bike and next year is Olympic year. But I wanted to do it for me, and not for anybody else.”