By winning the fourth stage, Tadej Pogacar took over the yellow jersey from the overall leader in the Paris-Nice long-distance cycling race and proved his outstanding form. The 24-year-old Slovenian relegated Frenchman David Gaudu to second place in the final sprint on Wednesday following 164.7 kilometers from Saint-Amand-Montrond to the mountain finish at La Loge des Gardes. 10 seconds ahead of Gaudu, the two-time Tour winner is now ahead.
The closing stages offered plenty of spectacle with attacks from Jonas Vingegaard, Pogacar and Gaudu, first, second and fourth overall in last year’s Tour de France. Gregor Mühlberger (Movistar) was the best Austrian in 29th place (+2:37), Felix Großschartner was 38th (+4:22).
“It wasn’t actually my goal today to take the yellow jersey. But of course you don’t say no to that,” said Pogacar following his fourth win of the season. The UAE Team Emirates pro was able to get in the top three in mid-February at the Tour of Andalusia, which he ended up winning. The fifth leg of the eight-day race on Thursday covers 212.4 kilometers from Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise to Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux. The long-distance journey traditionally ends on Sunday in Nice on the Côte d’Azur.
Meanwhile, in the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race, Italian Filippo Ganna (Ineos) remained 28 seconds ahead of German Lennard Kämna (Bora). A speed increase by the Dutch Jumbo Visma team around the three-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic briefly blew up the field regarding eleven kilometers from the finish. In the end, however, the fugitives were caught up once more and the expected mass sprint took place, which the Belgian Jasper Philipsen won. East Tyrolean Felix Gall (AG2R) came to the finish with the field (83rd), Bora helper Patrick Gamper a good four and a half minutes later.
