Peter Sagan (Beulah Hansgrohe) rejected the idea of racing indoors using an online platform, describing himself as a "real cyclist, not virtual."

Three-time world champion Peter Sagan lives in Monaco, where coronavirus restrictions prevent people from exercising outside.

The cycling season was recently changed to fall, forcing him to use a home trainer to stay in condition.

"I hate riding rollers, but now they are my friend," Sagan said in an Instagram video Q&A.

Sagan is using a team-issued Wahoo smart trainer and is starting to tune it up for races later this year, but he has drawn the line at using it for "virtual" races.

Many professionals are participating in virtual races from home, and many of Sagan's Classics rivals are participating in the "lockdown" version of the Tour of Flanders.

"It remains to be seen how long this will last, but I don't think the Zwift race will, given my conditions, what I'm doing, and preparation," Sagan said.

"I'm a real cyclist, not a virtual one. If this is the future, ....... I don't think so; you might be able to race an electric bike on Zwift. Just kidding."

Sagan has been at home in Monaco since returning from Paris-Nice in early March. As a precaution, he lived a self-sufficient life for three weeks, with teammate Oscar Gatto bringing him meals. Since then, he has been lucky enough to spend more time with his son.

"I wanted to keep a low profile," Sagan said, apologizing for his lack of social media updates.

"My family and I are doing well. I'm training on the rollerblades and doing my core training schedule every day, but it's clear that I miss training and racing on the road as much as everyone else does. I'm looking forward to getting back to my old life, but for now I'll just have to follow official instructions and stay home."

Earlier this week, the UCI released a new race calendar for the rescued 2020 season. The Tour de France has been postponed from August 29 to September 20, followed by the World Championships, the Giro d'Italia, and the Vuelta a España. Sagan's primary target, the Monument Classics, will be held on an as yet undetermined date.

"I have to stay in shape after they set the schedule for the next season. If some races are going to take place, I have to be ready.

"The UCI, together with the main race organizers, is trying to do its best for our sport in this difficult and exceptional situation. This is the first time we are facing such a crisis, but the experts know how to proceed much better than I do. For me, it is just a matter of waiting and following the rules. When conditions are safe to race again, I will be back on the road so that the fans can enjoy this beautiful sport again."

Sagan concluded by admitting that the sport of professional cycling is insignificant given the scale of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We must be more considerate of others and respectful of this situation.

"I'm healthy, I'm home, I see my son, I train, I do my thing. I have no problems. Many people around the world are suffering more.