Cycling: Roglic-Pogacar, bis Slovenia between the Tyrrhenian Sea and Nice

The Slovenian anthem resounds on the seafront of San Benedetto del Tronto and on the Promenade des Anglais at the end of the two stage races that precede the spring classics, the Tirreno-Adriatico and the Paris-Nice, won respectively by Primoz Roglic and Tadej Pogacar.

The two dominated during the week, winning three stages each and the winner of two Tours de France also allowed himself the luxury of crossing the finish line first today in Nice, bowing, probably to himself.

Roglic's behavior was more sober, who, thanks to his mainly psychological advantage after three consecutive stage wins, limited himself to checking the final stage of the 58th edition of the Race of the Two Seas, which ended with a sprint that was won by Belgian Jasper Philipsen, at the second partial success, in front of the

Dutch Dylan Groenewegen and the blue Alberto Dainese.

The 'Tirreno' really had only one master, given that the Slovenian of Jumbo Visma took home not only the blue jersey of the winner but also the green one of the climbers and the cyclamen one of the points classification.

The white jersey of the best youngster went to the Portuguese Joao Almeida, second in the general standings ahead of the British Tao Geoghegan Hart.

For the blue pedal, the success in last Monday's inaugural time trial by Filippo Ganna, who remained leader of the race until Wednesday, when the first important climbs arrived, and the final fifth place by Giulio Ciccone remain on the notebook.

Then today Dainese stood out, able to get on the podium in the difficult and dangerous sprint at San Benedetto.

Today's stage,

always starting from the Marche region, it was characterized by the action of a small group of eight runners who accumulated up to more than three minutes of advantage.

The entry into the 15 km circuit to be covered five times between Grottammare and San Benedetto, all flat, gave way to the rescue of the group, which caught up with the fugitives three kilometers from the finish to give space to the sprinters, with Roglic attentive not to risk anything to ensure an encore of the 2019 success. The 33-year-old, who succeeds in the roll of honor in Pogacar, has taken the measures for the Giro d'Italia (May 6-28), which he declared to be the his main goal of the season.

ANSA Agency

Cycling: Pogacar wins Paris-Nice - Cycling

The Slovenian takes success in his first participation (ANSA)

 His younger compatriot, on the other hand, has the Tour de France in his sights, which last season was 'snatched' from him by Jonas Vingegaard.

The Dane, not yet in top form, finished the Paris-Nice in third place, also behind the Frenchman David Gaudu, in turn a contender for a prominent role in the next Grande Boucle.

"I've always dreamed of winning Paris-Nice - said Pogacar - and even if I didn't win anything else this year I'd still be happy."

In the meantime, however, he immediately launched his next challenge from the podium in Nice: "Now a little rest and then next Saturday I'll aim for the Milan-San Remo".

Since the beginning of the season, Pogacar has already pocketed nine victories and the tenth could come right on the Riviera.