the dutch Olav Kooij (Jumbo Visma) won the fifth stage of the sprint Paris-Nice, in between Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise and Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteauxthe longest of this edition, with a distance of 212 km, a day of transition that kept the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar with the yellow jersey.
Kooij (Numansdorp, 21 years old), one of the leading sprinters in Dutch cycling, was powerful in the finish line, where he won with a time of 5 hours 19 minutes and 54 seconds, at an average of 39.8 km/h , ahead of the Danish Mads Pedersen (Trek) y del belga Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick Step). It was victory number 16 in the record of the Jumbo Visma rider.
The favorites barely appeared in this long day. It was, therefore, a comfortable day for Tadej Pogacar and the men of the general, who meet for the weekend. The Slovenian kept the lead with 6 seconds over the Frenchmans David Gaudu (Groupama) and 44 regarding Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma).
How was the stage?
Quiet, transitional, truce stage awaiting a weekend in which important battles between the favorites are expected. The 5 levels distributed along the route, the last one 35 km from the finish line, that of Aleyrac, of 4.6 km at 4.8 percent, did not alter the order in the large group. Nothing stressful.
The escape on duty was not missing, First, one was formed with 4 runners, but the marathon that awaited them convinced them to let themselves be caught up. Only the French resisted Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies), that even got to have 5 minutes of advantage. At 88 km from the finish line, he pulled out of his wits once he displayed himself for a long distance and got lost in the middle of the crowd.
With the headwind, the race chose to run in perfect unity, waiting to face the outcome in the sprint, a possibility that suited the sprinters’ teams wonderfully, exempt from canceling adventures.
Nevertheless, UAE, Jumbo, Jayco and Groupama They did not lose sight of the head of the squad to avoid risks of falls and changes in the direction of the wind.
Tranquility and harmony until the alarm sounded at the proximity of the goal. It was a bit late. Barely 3 km from the last line, the revolution began in the peloton. No team rode their train, but the chosen ones were in contention.
attacked from afar the british Ben Swift (Ineos), but it was immediately reduced to favor plans for a massive arrival. Inside the line he tried to surprise Bennett, but Koiij stuck to his wheel, he overtook him and went straight to glory. Arms raised, victory for the youth.
This Friday the sixth stage will be held, between Tourves and La Colle-sur-Loupwith a route of 197.4 km, a day in the middle of the mountains that will serve as an appetizer for an intense weekend with important ports, decisive in deciding the general classification.
