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In cycling, a sport largely defined by the movements of the pack, arguably its brightest star is beloved for his unorthodox style—in and out of the saddle. Slovakia-born cyclist Peter Sagan is bringing some much needed fun and excitement to the extremely serious business of racing bikes. Famous for riding wheelies across the finish line and Tokyo Drift-ing his way around corners, Sagan doesn’t ride like a typical member of the peloton, because he isn’t typical. And neither is the new Sagan Collection, released with longtime sponsor—and fellow style and performance aficionados—Specialized.
The aptly named Disruption collection is geared toward watt-monitoring roadies, but will surely be appreciated too by everyday riders who may otherwise associate the name Sagan more with the cosmos than the Tour de France.
Originally a mountain bike champ in his youth, Sagan got into road riding later in life. As a kid, he started turning heads by winning races in jean shorts and running shoes. And like something out of a superhero cyclist origin story, he really did once borrow his sister’s bike on race day—and win. As an adult professional, his antics (and results) on the bike remain the same, but he’s a bit more dialled in with his gear these days.
For the highly anticipated fifth chapter of the ongoing Specialized Sagan collection, you won’t find flashy logos or neon colorways. Instead, it channels a more laid back spirit—a more whimsical, bon vivant vibe for cycling. And it comes just in time for long summer rides.
Standouts of the 13-piece collection include the two special edition S-Works framesets—a champagne-hued Aethos and an abstract art influenced, race-ready Tarmac SL7—and the most elegant bike helmet we’ve seen to date in the S-Works Evade II with ANGi. The Disruption edition S-Works 7 Road Shoes, hands down the lightest and stiffest shoes we’ve had the pleasure of pushing pedals with, embody the days of riding when shoes were made of black leather, jerseys were made of wool, and rehydrating with Chablis was the norm. But don’t worry, the Disruption edition S-Works 7 only looks like a page out of history, they’re made from the latest Dyneema Mesh for a supportive, precise fit and FACT Powerline carbon for maximum stiffness and power transfer.
On the apparel side, Specialized keeps it classic and timeless with black bibs and white jerseys. Overt and subtle hits of white, blue, and red—plus the occasional gold detail—throughout the collection are a nod to Sagan’s native Slovakia’s flag. Along with the special edition silk scarf (a timeless and surprisingly useful accessory for riding) perhaps the most enviable piece of apparel is the simplest: a tricolor cycling cap emblazoned with “Disruption” in gold lettering on the side. It’s the perfect accessory for popping a bottle as Sagan races after another record win at the Olympics next month. And for wearing under your helmet as you crush miles this summer.
Of course, there’s no promise any piece in the Sagan Disruption collection will deliver a pure performance boost, but with so much style and spirit ingrained throughout, you might just pick up a bit of Peter’s disruptive spirit anyway. It’s worth a shot, afterall.
Shop the full collection exclusively at Specialized, where prices range from $30 for the cyclist cap up to $6,000 for the S-Works Tarmac SL7.
Published 07-15-2021
