THE KING OF THE GREEN JERSEY IS COMING TO RACE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
A record-holder of the Tour de France — the most famous cycling race on the planet — is heading to the Czech Republic. Peter Sagan, the only rider in history to win the Škoda Auto green jersey for the points classification at the Grande Boucle seven times, will take part as an ambassador of Škoda We Love Cycling and the hilly L’Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France, taking place in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region on 20 June.
“We’re proud to have agreed on this collaboration, and Peter Sagan will follow in the footsteps of the star ambassadors who have taken part in L’Etape Czech Republic in previous seasons,” said Přemysl Novák, head of the project. In past years, the peloton of the largest amateur race in the country has featured Bradley Wiggins (Tour de France 2012 winner and five-time Olympic champion), Alberto Contador (Tour de France winner in 2007 and 2009), and Andy Schleck (Tour de France 2010 winner).
“We’re delighted to remain part of a project that has built a strong and unique position on the Czech sporting scene. Our partnership with L’Etape Czech Republic confirms our love for cycling — as a brand, we support all cyclists, both professional and recreational. Together with the organisers, we’re constantly looking for ways to take the race to the next level. With Peter Sagan as ambassador — a seven-time winner of the Tour de France green jersey — this expectation will undoubtedly be met. We believe it will bring fantastic experiences for all participants and a great atmosphere along the entire route,” said Kateřina Cermanová Smolová, Sponsorship Coordinator at Škoda Auto Czech Republic.
The hilly stage, which started at Strahov in previous years, will this time roll out from Pankrác and head towards the Sázava region. Riders can choose from three route options (Short – 57 km, Medium – 102 km, Long – 132 km). The start line regularly features major Czech sporting names such as Martina Sáblíková, Zdeněk Štybar, Ján Svorada, Tereza Huříková, Tomáš Bábek, Milan Gulaš, and Petr Čech, who last year made his debut on the medium route.
Organisers spent several weeks persuading the Slovak cycling superstar to take part. Peter Sagan is a true phenomenon of the sport — a rider who fundamentally changed cycling. After an era tainted by doping scandals, he brought a completely new approach to the peloton. He became, without exaggeration, a superstar of the bunch — more like a rock star on two wheels.
He wore long hair, sometimes showed up at races with his beard dyed green, and wasn’t afraid to call out rivals on social media. On the bike, he celebrated like the Hulk one moment, and like the Wolf of Wall Street the next. Sponsors loved his flair. Even when the charismatic Slovak could be controversial, they were more than willing to invest heavily to have him represent their brand.
“Why take life so seriously?” was his well-known motto, often mentioned in his engaging autobiography. Many riders now rising to the top admit that Peter Sagan was their inspiration to get on a bike and start racing.
“He changed cycling. He made it a show. He attracted people. He didn’t just ride — he transformed the image of our sport and made racing entertaining,” said Ján Valach, sporting director of Sagan’s teams and one of his closest collaborators. Sagan even earned the nickname “Tourminator”.
Peter Sagan rode the Tour de France twelve times, making his debut in 2012. He immediately made an impact, winning three stages and taking the points classification.
“The Tour de France changed my life. It’s the biggest race in the world. But it’s not much fun — it comes with huge pressure and expectations. It requires total focus,” Sagan admitted, acknowledging how defining the race has been for him.
He repeated his points classification victory in 2013 and added more stage wins. Although he didn’t win a stage in 2014 and 2015, he still claimed the green jersey in Paris. His remarkable run was interrupted only in 2017, when he was controversially disqualified following a collision with Mark Cavendish, the record holder for most stage wins in Tour de France history.
On his return in 2018, Sagan won three stages and secured his sixth green jersey, partnered by Škoda Auto. He set a unique record in 2019 by winning the points classification for the seventh time, adding to his total of twelve stage victories.
Sagan is also the only rider in history to win three consecutive UCI Road World Championship titles (2015, 2016, 2017). He has also triumphed in Monuments such as Paris–Roubaix (2018) and the Tour of Flanders (2016), claimed four stage wins at the Vuelta a España, and won the points classification at the Giro d’Italia in 2021.
“I’ve got nothing left to chase. I can’t achieve more,” he said of his remarkable road career. “I never wanted to race until I was forty. I want to spend time with my son Marlon and see life from different perspectives — not just as a cyclist,” explained the Žilina native, who retired at just 33.
He had hoped to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris in mountain biking — the discipline where he began his career and became a junior world and European champion. However, heart problems and two surgeries within a month in March 2024 forced him to abandon that goal. Instead, he brought his career to a close in style at the Tour of Slovakia 2024.
L’Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France is more than just a race. The event village at the start area offers activities for all ages, including children’s competitions, an EXPO zone, a Tour de France museum, an official fan shop, and a wide range of refreshments.
The event is part of the global L’Etape Series for amateur riders, organised under the patronage of A.S.O., the organiser of the Tour de France. Races take place across South America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East in more than thirty countries worldwide. In the Czech Republic, two races will again be held in a single season: the hilly stage in Prague on 20 June and a flat stage in Pardubice on 3 October. Registration for both events — including the one featuring Peter Sagan — is now open.