Snappy dresser Sagan wins two awards at UCI Gala

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Peter Sagan and Brian Cookson.

    Peter Sagan rocked a fedora, a polka dot suit, sparkly shoes, a red ribbon tie and a shiny cane as he joined 23 other riders who were honoured at the UCI Cycling Gala at the St. Regis hotel Monday night ahead of the start of the Abu Dhabi Tour.

    The freshly-minted double world champion will not be competing in the capital showpiece, which starts tomorrow, but stopped by Abu Dhabi to receive two awards, one for triumphing in the World Championship road race in Doha last Sunday, and another for topping the UCI World Rankings for 2016.

    Sagan was happy to end a long successful season on a high note but admits he’s ready for a much-deserved break.

    “I’m very lucky I’m going home after this,” the Slovak joked on stage. “I’m very happy to be here and very proud of this award.”

    This is the second edition of the Cycling Gala, after making a successful debut last year in Abu Dhabi.

    Award winners included stand-out riders, teams and nations from the UCI WorldTour, the UCI Women’s WorldTour, the Olympics, Paralympics, and the UCI Road World Championships.

    Women’s road race world champion Amalie Dideriksen and individual time trial champion Amber Neben were also honoured for their exploits in the Qatari capital.

    “It was so amazing, it was such a long journey back,” said the 41-year-old Neben, whose world title in Doha came eight years after winning her first.

    “The last four years have been so challenging, the last two years have been pretty special. I could taste it, I could feel it, the power was coming back… but to put it all together and to do it was just… I mean I can’t put it into words – super, super special.”

    On being part of the gala in Abu Dhabi, she added: “It’s funny, I’m way more comfortable racing my bike in front of half a million people, than coming to a gala. You get out of your comfort zone and you feel so awkward. But it’s fun and it’s a neat thing to be a part of it.”

    The Abu Dhabi Tour team presentations also took place at the event last night with Grand Tour stars like Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and race ambassador Mark Cavendish taking the stage alongside their fellow team-mates.

    The summit finish in the third stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour is tailor-made for a climber like Contador but the Spaniard played down his chances. “I think that could be a hard climb for me maybe in this moment,” said Contador.

    Recommended