During his road career, Peter Sagan was one of the most visible ambassadors of the Specialized brand. From the Tinkoff era (2015–2016) through BORA-hansgrohe (2017–2021) to TotalEnergies (2022–2023), he rode mostly on S-Works Venge, Tarmac and Roubaix frame platforms, with Roval wheels and Shimano components, often receiving special paint jobs and limited “Sagan Collection” editions. The overview below brings together specific models, technical details and a few interesting tidbits that are still worth mentioning today.
Tinkoff (2015–2016): S-Works Venge ViAS, Tarmac and the first “bling” specials
In the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Sagan mainly rode the aero-focused S-Works Venge ViAS and the all-round S-Works Tarmac. At the time, the Venge ViAS was one of the most radical aero frames out there, with hidden brakes, an integrated cockpit and deep-section Roval carbon wheels—built for the lowest possible drag and high speeds in bunch sprints. Tinkoff ran Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (11-speed), often complemented by ceramic bearings and SRM power meters; he rode a Prologo saddle and also used FSA cockpit components, which was a common top-level WorldTour mix in that era. Even then, Sagan’s frames drew attention with custom paint—his signature glitter finish with rainbow details became a calling card and a precursor to the later “Sagan Collection.”
BORA-hansgrohe (2017–2021): the fast Venge, the versatile Tarmac SL6/SL7 and the iconic Roubaix
After moving to BORA-hansgrohe, he stayed with Specialized and Roval, rotating between the aero Venge (e.g., at the 2018 Tour) and the lighter Tarmac SL6 depending on the season. The breakthrough came in 2020 with the Tarmac SL7: the “one bike to rule them all” philosophy combined aero efficiency with low weight into a single do-it-all platform, so the team no longer had to choose between the Tarmac and Venge based on stage profile. In BORA-hansgrohe, Sagan’s bikes commonly ran tubulars at first and later tubeless tires, with Roval CLX wheels and Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting; sprint shifters on the drops and other small tweaks for sprinting and Classics-style racing were also common. An unforgettable chapter is Paris-Roubaix 2018, where, as reigning world champion, he won on an S-Works Roubaix featuring Future Shock technology in the headset, helping filter vibrations on the cobbles. That victory cemented the Roubaix reputation as a bike that blends speed and comfort on the toughest roads of the season.
TotalEnergies (2022–2023): pure Tarmac SL7 aerodynamics and a farewell Roubaix
After joining TotalEnergies, Sagan stayed on the Tarmac SL7 with Roval wheels and Shimano Dura-Ace. Interestingly, in 2022 his race bike still had the “older” 11-speed version of Dura-Ace, which looked unusual in the peloton as 12-speed groupsets arrived—yet it was perfectly functional in practice. In 2023, he made a symbolic farewell to Paris-Roubaix on an S-Works Roubaix with a modified Future Shock damper and prototype (then still unreleased) Specialized Mondo tires. After a crash he had to abandon, but technologically it was a nice demonstration of how, even at the tail end of his road career, he cared about details and experimenting with equipment.
MTB comeback in 2024: Epic 8 / Epic World Cup, electronic “Flight Attendant,” and an Olympic dream
After the WorldTour, he switched to mountain bikes in 2024 with the goal of qualifying for Olympic cross-country. He rode the latest generation Specialized Epic (Epic 8 / Epic World Cup) with the RockShox Flight Attendant electronic suspension system, without the “Brain,” with more modern geometry and an emphasis on speed and control. Despite major attention and testing new tech, qualification for Paris ultimately didn’t happen, partly due to health issues during spring 2024. Still, the MTB episode showed that Sagan remains a true gear nerd—he likes trying new things and can translate them into riding right on the limit.
Wheels, tires and damping: why Roval, why Mondo, and what Future Shock does
Over the years, Sagan rode almost exclusively on Roval wheels—from deep aero CLX/CLX Rapide sets to tougher cobble-ready combinations. The trend toward wider tires (from ~25 mm to 28–30+ mm) improved not only comfort but also speed on real-world roads; at Roubaix 2023 he tested the new Specialized Mondo, a sign of the move toward fast “all-road” tires. The key element on Roubaix models is Future Shock—a small spring system in the headset that isolates the rider from micro-impacts and reduces fatigue on cobbles. In practice, that means a higher average speed without paying the price in your hands and shoulders—exactly what you need in the “Hell of the North.”
Cockpit, accessories and signature details: from FSA and Prologo to the Sagan Collection and 100% glasses
During the Tinkoff period, the cockpit often featured FSA components and Prologo saddles; later, at BORA-hansgrohe and TotalEnergies, Specialized and Roval took the lead (integrated cockpits, carbon seatposts). A constant signature was the overall look & feel—glitter paint, rainbow accents and designs from limited Sagan Collection editions, which also went on sale to the public (framesets, complete bikes, helmets or shoes). Among accessories, Sagan’s switch to 100% eyewear ahead of the 2017 season is also worth noting—a partnership that became a peloton style icon and frequently made headlines thanks to bold special editions.
Indicative prices and availability of “Sagan” editions
Some Sagan Collection items were sold in limited numbers and carried a premium price tag. For example, the S-Works Roubaix Di2 – Sagan Collection (model year 2018) was listed in online shop roundups at around €9,390 at launch. With newer generations (e.g., the Tarmac SL7), prices vary by groupset and wheels; the S-Works-level frame and complete bike remain among the absolute top tier in the road world—and that hasn’t changed.
Video: Sagan’s pro bikes in detail
Check out detailed walkarounds of his bikes from different years. Each video shows how the bikes were built for specific races and road surfaces.
Peter Sagan’s S-Works Venge ViAS – Tour Down Under 2018 (GCN Tech)
Peter Sagan’s New Specialized Roubaix – Pro Bike for Paris-Roubaix (GCN Tech)
Pro Bike Build – S-Works Tarmac SL7 (BORA-hansgrohe)
Summary: what to take away for choosing your own bike
If you’re looking for a “Sagan-like” road bike, the Tarmac SL7 is still a superb all-rounder: low weight, stiffness and a noticeable aero gain in a single frame that works from flats to climbs. For cobbles, broken roads and long rides on rough tarmac, the Roubaix platform with Future Shock still makes a lot of sense. And if you love that pure aero sprinter feel and high flat-land speed, the now-historical Venge ViAS shows just how far integration and tube shaping can be taken—although today’s SL7 “one-bike” concept already absorbs many of those benefits into one frame. Roval wheels and wider tires (28–30 mm) add comfort and speed, while Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting remains the gold standard in the peloton.
Sources
- Peter Sagan’s bike: A look back at the three-time world champion’s bikes – https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/peter-sagans-bike/
- Peter Sagan’s TotalEnergies 2022 Specialized Tarmac SL7 – https://velo.outsideonline.com/gallery/gallery-peter-sagans-totalenergies-2022-specialized-tarmac-sl7/
- Peter Sagan’s 2023 Paris-Roubaix bike (BikeRadar) – https://www.bikeradar.com/features/pro-bike/2023-peter-sagan-paris-roubaix-bike
- 2021 Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 „one bike to rule them all“ – https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/gear-reviews/bikesframes/2021-specialized-s-works-tarmac-sl7-revenge/
- Peter Sagan’s 2016 Specialized Venge ViAS – gallery (CyclingNews) – https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/peter-sagans-2016-specialized-venge-vias-gallery/
- Sagan & Tinkoff: parts and specs (Bikerumor) – https://bikerumor.com/sagan-rogers-wheelie-2016-custom-specialized-s-works-tinkoff-machines/
- Flanders vs. Roubaix: Tarmac and Roubaix (RoadCyclingUK, 2016) – https://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/pro-bike-peter-sagans-specialized-tarmac-roubaix-tour-flanders-paris-roubaix.html
- S-Works Tarmac SL7 details for the 2021 season (Biker.sk) – https://www.biker.sk/53043/pozrite-si-detaily-specialu-s-works-tarmac-sl7-na-ktorom-bude-jazdit-sagan-v-roku-2021-detaily-videospecifikacia/
- S-Works Roubaix Di2 – Sagan Collection (2018) – indicative price – https://99spokes.com/en/bikes/specialized/2018/mens-s-works-roubaix-di2-sagan-collection
- The Sagan Collection (official Specialized website) – https://www.specialized.com/ch/fr/sagan-collection-2
- Peter Sagan on the new Specialized Epic 2024 (Biker.sk, MTB photo gallery) – https://www.biker.sk/aktuality/fotogaleria-peter-sagan-na-novom-bicykli-specialized-s-works-epic-2024/
- Peter Sagan and RockShox Flight Attendant electronic suspension (Brujulabike, 2024) – https://en.brujulabike.com/peter-sagan-riding-electronic-suspensions-specialized-epic/
- Specialized Epic 8 – new-generation test (Enduro-MTB, 2024) – https://enduro-mtb.com/en/2024-specialized-epic-8-test/
- Sagan’s Olympic MTB ambitions in 2024 – qualification ends (CyclingNews, 28 May 2024) – https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/peter-sagans-olympic-mtb-hopes-gone-as-slovakia-misses-qualification/
Jana
I like turning curiosity into words, and writing articles is my way of capturing ideas before they slip away — and sharing them with anyone who feels like reading.
