Looks like Peto Sagan is on his way to other (not sure if they’re greener) pastures as he will be leaving the Bora-hansgrohe team at the end of this season. His quote makes him sound not all that stoked: “I’m sure BORA – hansgrohe will continue to be successful and I wish them all the best in the coming seasons,” Sagan says. Hmm, we know Quickstep didn’t want his entourage. So where will he go? Who knows.
For all the details from Bora-hansgrohe, please follow the jump.
The departure of Sagan and Ackermann heralds a significant change that was guided by strategic decisions. The successful path that the team has taken in the past is still to be continued. BORA – hansgrohe wishes both riders the very best and a successful future.
“I would firstly like to say that both riders are important parts of our team and we have been able to celebrate many successes together over the past years. For this, I am grateful. There are different reasons why we are parting ways now. As far as Peter is concerned, we were in negotiations until the end. Of course, I can’t disclose details, but both sides worked constructively on solutions and we both wanted to proceed into the future together. However, we have also developed as a team, and we aim to continue this development. We have already made some strategic decisions and ultimately, Peter decided that there is another option available to him that is more in line with his ideas. I have full respect for that. Nevertheless, it is a great shame, because Peter is part of our success story and has contributed much to our development. All of us at BORA – hansgrohe will always be grateful for that.
Pascal also had an offer from us. He turned pro with the team and I think we also contributed a lot to developing him into one of the best sprinters in the peloton. We would have loved to continue working with Pascal, but he decided it was time for something new. A change of pace can sometimes be important, I can understand that, but I would have preferred him to take on the coming years with us.
I am sure that these will be exciting years for BORA – hansgrohe, because we are now entering a phase of change. We are constantly re-evaluating, because standing still means going backwards. We did not achieve all of our goals last year, for various reasons, but our standards are very high. This is the reason we have already started to reorganise ourselves for the future. More about that will be revealed in the coming weeks.
I would like to wish Peter and Pascal the very best for their sporting futures, but first of all we will try to achieve one or two victories together for BORA – hansgrohe this year.” – Ralph Denk, Team Manager
“Today, I would like to announce that a cycle is closing in my professional career and that I will not renew my contract with BORA – hansgrohe beyond the end of the 2021 season.
I would like to express my appreciation to Ralph Denk, Willi Bruckbauer, the team sponsors, all my teammates, and the entire staff of BORA – hansgrohe for their support and their confidence in me during these five seasons. We have achieved so many things and even in difficult times, we stuck together. I think that we weren’t just teammates, we were part of a big family.
I have no doubt that the five seasons I spent in BORA – hansgrohe were among the most prolific of my career and some of my most memorable moments happened during that period. I became the first rider to claim three consecutive World Championships, I had the honor of winning Paris-Roubaix. I scored my 100th professional victory while wearing the BORA – hansgrohe colors, I won my record-breaking seventh green jersey in the Tour de France and my first ever ciclamino jersey in the Giro d’Italia.However, after a long and thorough discussion with my own management and under a mutual agreement with BORA – hansgrohe, we came to the decision that it would be best if my cycle in the team came to a close and that a new chapter opened in my career. Change is part of life and growth.
I’m sure BORA – hansgrohe will continue to be successful and I wish them all the best in the coming seasons.” – Peter Sagan
“I am very grateful for the time that I’ve spent with the team. It has been the most formative of my still young career as a professional rider. I am particularly grateful that the team gave me the space to develop into a sprint captain. That’s not always easy to come by. I will especially remember the moments during the 2019 Giro, where I won the ciclamino jersey. And also my victory at Eschborn-Frankfurt, these are moments that you don’t forget. However, the career of a professional cyclist is limited. And during this time, I’d like to gain further experiences and to continuously develop myself. That’s why I’ve decided to take a different path, a decision that was anything but easy for me. I would like to thank the entire team, but especially my teammates, who have always believed in me. I wish you all the very best.” – Pascal Ackermann
“That a small team like ours was able to sign the current World Champion Peter Sagan five years ago was not only a dream come true for myself and a true sensation. It was also the best thing that could happen to us as a team and as a sponsor. We experienced significant sporting success and numerous memorable moments together with Peter.
He has been an inspiration to all of us and a great brand ambassador for BORA. But no matter how big the successes were, as a person, Peter has never changed, he has remained a humble person, friendly and respectful. Peter is a friend of our company and our people, and he will always remain so.
Pascal turned pro in our team at 22 years of age, and it has been impressive to see how fast he became a leader. He remained the friendly and open person who was always a very welcomed guest at our events and appreciated by our partners. Like Peter, a perfect ambassador for BORA.
Personally, I feel sorry that both will be leaving the team, but the BORA family says a big thank you and sends all the best for their future. We are known for hospitality, and this also means that in the future, Peter and Pascal will always be welcome at BORA.” – Willi Bruckbauer, Founder and CEO BORA
“On behalf of the entire Hansgrohe Group, I would like to extend a sincere thanks to Pascal Ackermann and Peter Sagan for their many sporting successes and unforgettable moments. Both have been an important part of the impressive progression of the BORA – hansgrohe pro cycling team. We wish both riders all the best for their future careers.” – Hans-Jürgen Kalmbach, Chairman of the Executive Board, Hansgrohe SE.
