photo credits @ Paris-Nice
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) made it back-to-back wins in this year’s Paris-Nice, after the Belgian rider claimed today’s stage 2, beating Emilién Jeannière (TotalEnergies) and Hugo Page (Intermarché-Wanty) in a sprint finish in Bellegarde.
“This is one I’m going to remember, because I think it’s the first time in my career I have won wearing a leader’s jersey,” Merlier pointed out afterwards, “Either that or I don’t remember it any more.
“First of all our team were the only ones controlling the race, but then Trek started helping.
“It was a bit annoying because the break was playing with us, coming back and then getting more time again. And at the end [breakaway Jonas] Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) was really strong, staying a long time in front, but the team did a really good job again.”
Meanwhile, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) completed the top five.
Earlier, Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) was part of an original three-rider breakway effort, but his fellow escapees were unable to live with the hard pace set by the Norweigan rider who had opened up an advatage of more than a minute.
However, the peloton gradually redcued Abramsen’s lead as he entered rhe final 20 kilometers.
Abrahamsen led the race into the finishing circuit for what would be the race’s first passage across the line, sweeping up six bonus seconds for his efforts. Meanwhile, a small crash in the peloton caused a few small splits, which temporarily caught out several GC riders, allowing Abrahamsen to push on with the real finish drew closer. His lead stood at 35 seconds with under ten kilometers to race.
Abrahamsen was finally caught by a fast approaching peloton with just over 2 kilometers to go. The peloton tore under the Flamme Rouge with Visma-Lease a Bike, Lidl-Trek and Soudal Quick-Step leading the charge. But in the end, nobody could stop Merlier, as the Belgian cantered to a second successive stage win.
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