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Paris-Nice: behind Merlier, the first winner is called Pogacar

2023-03-05T17:36:15.174Z


The Belgian sprinter won the 1st stage. The Slovenian pocketed six precious bonus seconds in his duel with Jonas Vingegaard.


The duel has well and truly begun.

From the 1st stage (won in the sprint at La Verrière by Belgian Tim Merlier, ahead of Sam Bennett, Mads Pedersen, Olav Kooij and Arnaud De Lie).

From the first difficulty of the race, the Million hill (at km 59), Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard had shown their good condition and their ambition.

In the climb of 17 Turns, placed six kilometers from the finish, Tadej Pogacar went to pick up the 6 bonus seconds (ahead of Pierre Latour and Dorian Godon), Jonas Vingegaard having to settle for 4th place in this intermediate sprint.

Deprived of bonus.

Pogacar-Vingegaard, the star duo of the Race to the Sun extended their effort, then the Dane got up.

The race had just experienced its first highlight.

These two who are discovering Paris-Nice, determined not to wait until the last moment, had ants in their legs this Sunday.

Illustration of attacking cycling.

Promising for the race.

Eight months after their fantastic showdown during the Tour de France, there is revenge in the air.

A fierce desire to do battle.

When Vingegaard got up, leaving Latour to struggle alone against the peloton, Pogacar gave a shrug that said a lot about his desire.

"

When I saw that there were only three of us, I realized that I risked losing even more seconds in the sprint if we had been at the end

", summed up Vingegaard at the Last Hour.

There were only two of us riding.

It was not enough to continue and in addition, the wind was unfavourable.

I preferred to get up and spare myself while trying to finish safely

, ”explained Pogacar.

The game is off to a good start.

On the evening of the 1st stage, the Slovenian winner of the Tours de France 2020 and 2021 did the right thing.

Six seconds which can weigh heavily in a race which is sometimes played for a breath (two seconds for the Colombian Sergio Henao in 2017, 4 seconds for the Welshman Geraint Thomas in 2016).

"

The Race to the Sun

", renowned for its traps, its edges, its suspense is well launched...

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2023-03-05

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