Peter Sagan is awaiting the results of a new operation for heart problems before competing in the mountain bike event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It will be his second operation in just over a month, having undergone surgery to control his heart impulses in February. The Slovakian took to his social media channels to explain what happened during a training session.

"While training on the rocky streets of Marseille, my heart experienced some shocks. Nothing alarming, but it seems my heart needs a pit stop," he said. "Promising a speedy return to competition, he added: "I will have an operation next week.

Sagan travelled to Italy at the end of February to see the Italian doctor Roberto Corsetti, who had previously treated him when he was a professional cyclist with the Italian Liquigas team. An abnormal tachycardia was quickly diagnosed. He underwent surgery to control his heartbeat. Everything went well and he quickly returned to training, but now he has another setback to deal with.

Sagan's heart rate exceeded 200 beats per minute during an episode of tachycardia he suffered during a mountain bike race in Valencia. This led to a first intervention at a hospital in Ancona. The data were alarming. His coach, the Spaniard Patxi Vila, suggested that Sagan should be monitored by doctors.

Sagan, 34, has won some of cycling's greatest classics, including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders, three world championships and the green jersey of the Tour de France seven times. The discipline he dominates and in which he has always wanted to show his talent is mountain biking. He has not been lucky in his other Olympic appearances. That is why he is so keen to take part in Paris 2024.

He retired from road cycling with 121 professional victories in his career and his wish is to retire from professional cycling after the Games. He plans to spend a season on the mountain bike circuit, but this will depend on whether his recent heart surgery goes well and the Slovakian is able to start training again.

Sagan competed in the mountain bike event in 2016, but he had to withdraw due to a breakdown. All eyes were on Peter Sagan, as the Slovakian was one of the best road cyclists at the time, which led to him being allowed to compete in the Olympic event. Sagan remembered his origins as a 'biker' and made a brilliant start. He moved up 40 places before suffering a puncture and being lapped.