Sagan’s agent told QuickStep how rider comes with large “entourage” of staff

Peter Sagan is a huge draw and nobody attracts the public's and media's attention like he does. However, the entourage that moves with him from team to team is also like no other rider (Photo: Alessandro Bremec)

Deceuninck-QuickStep boss, Patrick Lefevere, has said he immediately stalled talks about Peter Sagan joining his team as the “entourage” of people the rider was going to bring with him was just too big.

Lefevere said he would have ended up with a “team within
a team”, as Sagan’s agent spoke in terms of the rider coming with up to 11
people.

Some of those had other jobs to go to if required, but
even by taking some of them out of the deal, the group the team was expected to
sign numbered eight.

Sagan has always brought fellow riders and some staff with him as he has moved teams. The three-time world champion is said to earn €5 million per year.

Lefevere said if he hired Sagan he would end up with a team within a team and he said that would not fit with the Wolfpack mentality he has tried to cultivate

However, some reports in the European media have claimed
that hiring Sagan would cost €8-€9 million per year because of all the other
riders and staff that come with him.

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With Sam Bennett leaving Deceuninck-QuickStep this year,
according to Lefevere, and Sagan looking set to leave Bora-hansgrohe, the
prospect of Sagan joining Lefevere’s team and Bennett going back to
Bora-hansgrohe has been widely reported on.

Lefevere has told the Belgian media he met with Sagan’s
agent, Giovanni Lombardi. But when he heard details about between eight and 11
people coming with Sagan, Lefevere said it was clear to him it would not work.

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“Great of Sagan that he take such good care of his faithful, but I don’t want a team within my team. That cannot be reconciled with the Wolfpack philosophy,” he said. 

Peter Sagan has taken a stage win and the points classification from this Giro and anyone writing him off may be mistaken

Lefevere suggested Sagan’s agent mentioned four riders
coming with him; his brother Juraj, Daniel Oss, Erik Baska and Maciej Bodnar.
The move would also involve a couple of mechanics, two soigneurs, a DS, hospitality
manager and press officer.

With the mooted Deceuninck-QuickStep move off the table, Sagan is now being linked with ProContinental team Total Direct Energie. It is seeking a move up to WorldTour so making such a big signing would be required and investment is clearly coming into the team.

Sagan (31) has taken three wins so far this season, including a stage at the Giro d'Italia. And he will win the points classification at the Giro in Milan today, barring major incident.

Peter Sagan in green at the 2019 Tour de France. He lost that green crown to Sam Bennett on last year's race when Bennett really broke through to the very top and won two stages as well as the points classification

Sam Bennett’s next destination has still not been confirmed.
However, Bora-hansgrohe is the only move he has been linked to a sustained way.

The Irishman left that team two years ago on tricky
terms, with his departure becoming protracted. The team tried to keep him for
an additional year – based on a claimed verbal promise - despite the rider
clearly wanting to leave.

However, the German team eventually relented and Bennett
was free to sign with Deceuninck-QuickStep, though that two-year contract
expires at the end of this season and he is leaving.

Bora-hansgrohe would be a very different environment for
Bennett if he returned there. Sagan would be gone and Bennett, given his
performances and higher salary expectations, would be the stand-out leader.

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