‘I finally had a real job to do’: Peter Sagan helps to pack away flamme rouge at Tour Down Under
As if winning the stage and moving into the race lead wasn't enough...
As if winning stage four of the Tour Down Under wasn't enough, Peter Sagan decided to wind down from his victory on Friday by helping race workers to pack away the inflatable flamme rouge.
Still wearing the motocross goggles that he'd worn on the podium in Uraidla as he celebrated the stage win and moved into the ochre jersey, Sagan appears to have been being driven back from the stage finish when he got out to lend a hand to the race workers.
Sagan posted video of his manual labour on Twitter and Instagram showing him helping the orange-clad workers to haul the deflated flamme rouge into a trailer to be reinflated on Willunga Hill on Saturday.
>>> Peloton reacts to sweltering temperatures of up to 48ºC at Tour Down Under
Unsurprisingly, the man wearing the rainbow jersey rather than the orange t-shirt is quickly spotted by fans, who interrupt his work to ask for photos and autographs, with Sagan duly obliging.
Sagan then helps to pick up a last few electrical cables, before heading back towards the car having finished his hard work for the day.
A little earlier, Sagan had been racing underneath the flamme rouge on his way to victory on stage four of the Tour Down Under, out-sprinting Daryl Impey and Luis Leon Sanchez at the finish in Uraidla, a result that was enough to put him into the leader's ochre jersey with two stages remaining.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Sagan looked to have decent climbing legs on the climb towards the finish on stage four, but will have a tough task to hold on to his lead on stage five, which finishes on the three kilometres climb of Willunga Hill where Riche Porte has claimed victory for the last four years.
However there will be a further chance for Sagan to chase victory on Sunday, with the final stage being a circuit race around the streets of Adelaide.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Ribble Allroad Ti Pro review: the titanium endurance bike that shows its true mettle on poorer road surfaces
Classic titanium looks and 3D-printed construction make the Allroad Ti Pro a natural for long rides when the going gets rough
By Tim Russon Published
-
Bikes have got more expensive - but - we no longer start every ride wondering how long the they'll remain functional
Modern machines take all the jeopardy out of leaving the house
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Peter Sagan finishes second in last ever professional race
Former three time road world champion was the runner up in the Slovakian national MTB championships on Sunday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It's a miracle': The inside story of how Peter Sagan ended up on a team called Pierre Baguette
Six years after the dream first took root, Boris Horváth finally has Peter Sagan on his team
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Peter Sagan confident of return to bike in 15 days after latest heart procedure
Sagan recently underwent second operation in Italy to tackle heart rhythm related issues
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Peter Sagan undergoes second heart procedure, as Olympics nears
Return to training after first operation reveals further heart rhythm issues
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Peter Sagan undergoes heart procedure after experiencing ‘tachycardic episode’
Slovakian has ablation procedure in Italian hospital after heart rate exceeded 200 bpm during MTB race in Spain
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
French pro cyclist suffering with memory loss after Tour Down Under crash
‘I have no memory of the crash’ says Rudy Molard of Groupama FDJ after incident in Australia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I don't know if I'll be at this team or in cycling next year': Julian Alaphilippe on the Giro d'Italia, finding his form, and his relationship with Patrick Lefevere
Frenchman will focus on the Classics and then the Giro d'Italia in his contract year at Quick-Step
By Adam Becket Published
-
There is so much hope for British cycling, despite the domestic scene’s troubles
Stevie Williams’ victory at the Tour Down Under was just the latest breakthrough ride by a Briton, although there might not be a home UCI stage race to perform at soon
By Adam Becket Published