Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) ended his 2020 season at the Giro d'Italia, insisting that despite only winning one race in 2020, he is not thinking about retirement and feels no disappointment.

Sagan won the Giro d'Italia's 10th stage in Tortoreto by attacking rather than trusting to sprint. He has six top-five finishes in Italy and five in the Tour de France, but has failed to win a stage. Sam Bennett was always in the lead in the intermediate sprints, while Caleb Yuan, Bennett, and Wout Van Aert were always in the lead at the finish. He was also demoted for elbowing Van Aert on stage 11.

Beulah Hansgrohe's contract with Sagan expires after the 2021 season, and some pointed to Sagan's decline.

Sagan does not think so.

"When you win a lot, people's expectations rise, but often the difference between first and second place is only one centimeter.

"I do my best. I take what I can get.

"I haven't won a stage in the Giro yet. So I'm happy. I attacked, I suffered, I fought and I won. I think everyone liked the way I won. That's important for me. I can't compare it to a world title or anything, but it has a special place in my heart."

Sagan was one of the few riders to have competed in both the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, missing the classics which were rescheduled to the same dates as the Corsa Rosa.

He spent the spring COVID-19 in Monaco, training on rollers in the gym and spending as much time as possible with his young son Marlon.

Sagan does not blame the lockdown for his lack of wins in 2020.

"I don't think it was easy for anyone to prepare for a post-lockdown season.

"Perhaps the advantage went to the athletes who were able to train outdoors and not face a full lockdown; if they had been home for six weeks and could only do rollers and gym work, they would have definitely noticed the difference."

"But we had time to prepare for the rescheduled season. We had more training camps this year than in previous years. It was a short but very intense racing season."

Sagan's total number of victories is 114, with double-digit wins in every season. Sagan burst onto the world stage in 2010 with two stage wins in Paris-Nice. He went on to win seven green points jerseys in the Tour de France, three world titles, and a string of classics victories, making him the biggest star in the peloton.

"Everything changes; no one is the same as they were 10 years ago. It's the same for us racers. But I still want to race. I still love cycling," Sagan said, dismissing any suggestion of decline.

"I'm happy with the influence I have and the enjoyment my fans get out of it.

"I don't think any season is difficult. If I win 20 in 2021, people will immediately say I'm back. That would be a mistake too. I'm still here.