Paris-Nice: Vingegaard opens the ball, Pogacar responds as a champion

Hungry. Immense. Tadej Pogacar (Uae Emirates) triumphs on the climb of La Loge des Gardes and detaches his “rival” Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma). The starter of the 2023 Tour is therefore won by the Slovenian who leaves the Danish king of the 2022 Grande Boucle of 43”. A stage that was decided in the final kilometers of the climb which had an average gradient of 7% with peaks above 8%. At -4.3 km from the finish Vingegaard sprints but Pogacar immediately responds to the attempt. Gaudu (Groupama-Fdj) starts on the counterattack. The Frenchman manages to have an advantage of 16” before the Slovenian’s new attempt: at -2.5km Vingegaard detaches and gets back to the Frenchman. The Jumbo man fails to close and gets discouraged while the Slovenian launches the sprint with Gaudu and beats him to the finish line, becoming the new leader of the race. For Pogacar success number 52 in his career, sixth in the season. Third place for Gino Mader (Bahrain Victorius) while Vingegaard finished sixth at 43”. First of the Italian Sobrero at 1’38”. Pogacar now has an advantage of 10″ over Gaudu and 44″ over Vingegaard in the standings. Tomorrow fifth stage Saint Symphorien sur Coise-Saint Paul Trois Chateaux of 212.4 km.

Arrival order

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1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo, UAE) in 4.01’17”
2. David Gaudu (Female, Groupama-Fdj) and 1”
3. Gino Mader (Svi, Bahrain-Victorius) from 34”
4. Aurelien Paret-Peintre (Ag2r Citroen Team) in 42”
5. Kevin Vauquelin (Team Arkea Samsic) a 43″
6. Jonas Vingegaard (Dan, Jumbo-Visma) 43”

Classification

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1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo, Uae Team Emirates) in 11.55’00”
2. David Gaudu (Female, Groupama-Fdj) and 10″
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Dan, Jumbo-Visma) 44”
4. Simon Yates (Gb, Team Jayco AlUla) a 56”
5. Gino Mader (Svi, Bahrain-Victorius) a 1’19”
6. Romain Bardet (From, Team Dsm) a 1’40”