With a record 13 Tour of California stage wins and one overall title to his credit, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) has earned the "King of California" moniker that gets tossed around every May when the pro peloton traverses the Golden State.
Following his 2015 overall win, the king is back in California hoping to defend his throne, but the odds are stacked against him as the race has put together what is one of the the hardest editions yet.
The looming mountains on stage 3 and again on stage 5 could derail Sagan's plans, but the often-times laid-back world champion is taking it all in stride, soaking up the California sunshine and making plans for surf lessons ahead of Sunday's race start.
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"I like America and I like to ride here," Sagan said Friday at the pre-race press conference at the San Diego Yacht Club. "It's always good weather, at least since I've been coming here. It's good preparation, good people and a good race."
Sagan surprised nearly everyone last year when he won the overall title by just three seconds with a time bonus on the final day's sprint. He earned the win the day before, ironically, when he lost the race lead to Julian Alaphilipppe on the climb to Mt. Baldy – but kept his overall chances alive by finishing sixth and losing just 47 seconds, remaining within striking distance of the young Frenchman.
Sagan's performance on Mt. Baldy was surprising, even for himself, and he admitted on Friday that a repeat of his 2015 overall win probably isn't in the cards.
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