In a turn of events that shifted the mood of the races, a dominant rider surpassed Jonas Vingegaard’s disappointment by edging ahead of him in a win-win scenario. Not only in Paris-Nice, where Olav Kooij captured the fifth stage in a sprint, but also during Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy, a strong lineup of performances emerged. Primo Roglic clinched victory in the fourth stage, while Enric Mas finished in a solid sixth place. Another Slovenian star is setting sights on the Giro, with the route intersecting Volta where Remco Evenepoel is preparing to race on Monday, March 20, underlining the attention this season has drawn.
In France, a sprint unfolded in a picturesque Provençal setting around the quaint town of Saint-Paul-Troix-Châteaux. In days past, Lance Armstrong spent many years here and had his own complex relationship with Paris-Nice, a race he never seemed fully enthusiastic about. The town remains a touchstone for riders who know the course well, the kind of place where strategy merges with the rhythm of a long, demanding stage race.
Additionally, a colossal effort marked the long stage of Paris-Nice 2023, a day that invited riders to push through fatigue and clock miles. The event offered a dramatic reminder of why the race is cherished: extended distances, dramatic sprints, and the chance to relive the best moments of the mileage. The longest stage of the event ended with a crowded sprint finish, a scene that underscored the endurance required to sustain a high pace from start to finish.
During the 53-kilometer sprint to the Col du Deves, the peloton counted down the decisive moments. David Gaudu moved into a strong position, Arnaud Demare kept a steady pulse, and Tamau Pogi demonstrated composure in the closing meters. The final meters of the sprint teased a drama that decided the stage position, placing Gaudu just a touch ahead as the rear-guard of the pack reorganized. The day concluded with a sense of anticipation about how the GC would shift in the wake of time bonuses and sprint points. This classic Paris-Nice moment highlighted the tight race for overall leadership and the strategic battles that define the event.
As the race rolled on, the field carried on toward the finish with Jumbo-Visma securing a second stage win in Paris-Nice. The victory came as a reward for a team that maintained a steady tempo and executed a plan that favored strong sprinting power without sweating the small margins. The stage’s finish, rich with effort and a touch of drama, set the tone for a busy weekend ahead as the riders pressed toward the final line in the Côte d’Azur. The closing kilometers of the race remained a proving ground for resilience, with teams balancing breakaways against the relentless pace of the peloton and the tactical calls that could reshape the general classification on the very last approach to the finish.