2024-03-04 03:55:00
Remco Evenepoel (Belgium, Soudal Quick-Step) showed two attacks on the first day of the 82nd Paris-Nice. Olaf Kooi (Netherlands, Wisma Liesabijk) won the sprint with Pedersund.
Remko Evenepoor (Belgium, Soudal Quickstep) and Primoš Roglič (Slovenia, Bora-Hansgrohe) exchanging words before the race photo: CorVos
The day following Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates) claimed a solo 81km victory at Strade Bianche, the 82nd Paris-Nice (UCI2.WT) opened on the outskirts of Paris, France. The stage race, which started one day earlier than the Tirreno-Adriatico race held at the same time, was contested over a total of eight days and, as the name suggests, ran south from the suburbs of Paris to Nice on the Mediterranean coast.
It is called the “Mini Tour” because it is packed with a well-balanced layout of flat, hilly, and mountainous stages, and a team time trial will be held on the third day, just like last year. Pogačar, last year’s overall winner, was absent, but Primoš Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe, Slovenia) and Remko Evenepoor (Soudal-Quick-Step, Belgium), who will be competing in this year’s Tour de France, were present.
EF Education Easy Post sent 2 people to 3 people photo: ASO
On the first day of the tournament, the classification is a flat stage that crosses four Class 3 mountains. However, with 12.3km remaining, the third-class mountain to climb has a maximum gradient of 14% (distance 2.1km/average 5.1%), which is difficult enough to ward off pure sprinters who are not good at climbing. For this reason, the players aiming to win the overall championship were active from the first day.
Under the cold weather with all the players wearing arm warmers, EF Education Easy Post’s Jonas Lucci (Germany), Stefan Bisseger (Switzerland), and Mathieu Bourgaudeau (France, Total Energy) were able to escape immediately following the start. . The three riders had a lead of up to 3 minutes over the main group, and Lucci, who was steadily accumulating mountain points, took home the mountain award jersey.
The group returned to the city of Les Mureau, the day’s departure and landing point, to escape, and the peloton, including the sprinters, rushed into a hill with a maximum gradient of 10% set before the final mountain. Matteo Jorgenson (USA, Wisma-Lies-A-Bike) made an attack at the sprint point (top), where a maximum of -6 seconds of bonus time was given, and passed first, with Evenepool in second place gaining -4 seconds. While Roglič waited and watched, Egan Bernal (Colombia, Ineos Grenadiers) gained -2 seconds by passing third.
Evenepour’s second attack is marked by Roglič photo: ASO
Evenepool, who had passed the top, confirmed that there was a large gap in the following, and continued to accelerate. However, the trailing group caught up with the leading group, and on the next Class 3 mountain (distance 2.1km/average 5.1%), Evenepool attacked once more from Bernal’s trick. This time Roglič responded, and the group came together once more.
Anthony Turgis (France, Total Energy), who jumped out immediately following, was unable to make an attack, and pure drivers such as Dylan Groenewegen (Netherlands, Jayco Alouler) and Arnaud Douri (Belgium, Lot Destiny) were delayed in the climb. The group without Splinter rushed into the town of Les Mureau.
Olaf Kooi (Netherlands, Wisma Liesabijk) overtook Mads Pederson (Riddle Trek, Denmark) just before the finish line photo: CorVos
Led by Jasper Steuven (Belgium, Riddle Trek), Mads Pederson (Denmark) was in a good position. At the left-hand corner with 150m left, Pederson took the lead and began a sprint, with Olaf Kooi (Netherlands, Wisma Liesabijk) following behind him, and he lined up just before the finish line. As a result of both of them throwing their handles, Koi took the lead.
The 22-year-old Koi won the first day of the tournament by defeating Pedasun, who is in great form with four wins this season (two overall wins). “We knew it was going to be a tough stage, and we gave it our all. The last hill was tough, but we persevered, aiming for a sprint victory. Tomorrow is another stage with a lot of sprints, so we’ll have to protect this maillot jaune. I want to do my best,” said a delighted Koi, wearing the maillot jaune, the mark of being an overall leader.
Olaf Kooi wearing maillot jaune (Wisma Riesabijk, Netherlands) photo: CorVos
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