Perhaps the former world champion thought a Hulk like effort was necessary for victory at this Tour de France.
He alluded to feeling at least some media pressure in his post-race interview from critics now silenced.
"I did my best and it just came," said Sagan. "If I don't win, then everybody (is) going to ask me why (did I) miss? But you see, nothing is missing, everybody just needs some good luck and a good day for a win.
Sagan sat poised In fourth wheel behind Daryl Impey, Matteo Trentin (both Mitchelton-Scott) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) 200 metres from the finish line, launching his sprint down the left hand side moments later and comfortably leading the bunch home for the final 100 metre drag.
It was a closer sprint for second, with Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) just pipping Matteo Trentin in the throw for the line.
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Sagan's victory rewarded the efforts of his BORA-hansgrohe team mates who controlled proceedings along with Team Sunweb on the 175km stage from Saint-Dié-des-Vosges to Colmar and he thanked them accordingly. "I have to say thanks to all my team mates. They have done a great job.
"We controlled all day, on the flat part and towards the finish. I did my best."
"Finally, we have the Tour de France victory that we were looking for."
His hunt for a seventh green jersey is also looking healthy, today's stage victory increasing his lead over Michael Matthews (Sunweb) to 47 points.
The four categorised climbs on today's stage, including the category 2 and 3 climbs 40 kilometres from the finish, proved tantalising for many in the bunch as numerous riders tried escaping from kilometre zero.
Breakaway speicalist Thomas de Gendt was the first to try, bringing seven riders with him including Ben King (Dimension Data) and Oliver Naesen, but they were reined in six kilometres later. More riders attacked but only Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Merida), Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R La Mondiale) and De Gendt again looked dangerous at the 15km mark.
This attack too was absorbed just five kilometres later when Tim Wellens (Soudal-Lotto), Mads Würtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin), Simon Clarke (EF Education First), and Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) pulled clear, establishing a two minute advantage, eight kilometres later.
But a BORA-hansgrohe and Sunweb-led peloton ensured they were kept on a tight leash. Wellens (Soudal-Lotto) scooped up all the maximum KOM points to on offer bar the final climb where Skujins attacked the breakaway but went back to the peloton in the last 30 kilometres.
Rui Costa (UAE) attacked off the front with seven kilometres to the finish, but after a valiant effort was caught as the reduced bunch wound up in anticipation of the final sprint.
Sagan duly dispatched the sprinters with climbing ability that remained, taking his 12th Tour de France win.
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