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Watch: Peter Sagan calmly makes stem adjustments at 45 km/h

The world champion adjusted his stem at 45 kph, returned the tools to his team car then went back to the task at hand; winning the Hell of the North

April 8, 2018
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The internet was abuzz after three-time world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) delivered a masterclass in bike racing to win the 2018 edition of Paris-Roubaix. But his strength and finesse on the cobbles were not the only things gaining attention. His ability to make stem adjustments at 45 km/h an hour while riding in the winning move also gained considerable notice.

With 30 km remaining, Sagan went back to his team car and got an Allen key to make an adjustment to his stem. When he’s handed the wrong size, he calmly handed the tool back to get the correct one. Once he’s got the right tool in hand, Sagan proceeded to tighten up the bolts on his stem while rolling at high speed in the escape of three riders.

The rainbow stripes had attacked the main group of favourites with 55-km remaining and bridged to the remnants of the days breakaway which was whittled down to just Silvan Dillier (Ag2R La Mondial) and Jelle Wallays (Lotto-Soudal) by the thirty 30-km to go mark. Over the final cobbled sections, Wallays was dropped just leaving the Swiss champion to work with the world champion until they reached the Roubaix velodrome together. Sagan easily outsprinted Dillier who survived the early breakaway to take his second Monument win and first at Paris-Roubaix.

RELATED: Peter Sagan wins his first Paris-Roubaix

Sagan was riding his special edition Specialized Roubaix rim bike which features Future Shock to help soften road vibrations. The model he was using appears to have a nob to lock out the Future Shock on top so Sagan’s adjustments could have been to address his handlebars slipping as he bashed over the rough roads of Northern France.