TDespite a fall about 300 meters from the finish, Christophe Laporte successfully defended the yellow jersey of the leader in the Paris-Nice long-distance cycling race. The Frenchman from Team Jumbo-Visma fell on Tuesday in the 3rd stage in a bunch sprint and reached the finish line a good one and a half minutes behind the former world champion Mads Pedersen (Denmark). On flat stages, however, crash victims in the last three kilometers receive the winner’s time, allowing Laporte to lead the race by a second over his Belgian teammate Wout van Aert.
The 190.8 kilometers from Vierzon to Dun-le-Palestel were characterized by many attacks in the hilly final phase. In the end, however, the sprint teams controlled the field and Pedersen won in a long sprint ahead of Frenchman Bryan Coquard and van Aert. The German team Bora-hansgrohe achieved eighth place thanks to Dutchman Danny van Poppel. As the best German, defending champion Maximilian Schachmann, who is already well behind in the overall standings, finished in 48th place.
Time trial specialists are in demand on Wednesday. The 13.4 kilometer course leads from Domérat to Montlucon. From Thursday onwards the terrain will be much more demanding. The race ends on Sunday with a stage around Nice.
Merlier stage winner at Tirreno-Adriatico
Meanwhile, Phil Bauhaus from Bocholt missed the day’s victory in the first mass sprint of the 56th edition of the Tirreno-Adriatico long-distance cycle race. The 27-year-old was in a good position in the final of stage two on Tuesday, but got pinched in the final meters and had to settle for sixth. Belgian Tim Merlier secured victory after 219 kilometers through Tuscany from Camaiore to Sovicille ahead of Dutchman Olav Kooij and Australian Kaden Groves. The overall leader remains Italy’s time trial world champion Filippo Ganna, who won the start.
The so-called race between the seas over seven stages will be very demanding, especially in the second half. However, there is no real mountain finish this year. The final stage takes place on Sunday around San Benedetto del Tronto on Italy’s east coast. On Wednesday, the sprinters should get their chance again at the finish in Terni. Last year’s and Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar is considered a big favorite in the field full of strong tour riders.
