photo credits @ Paris-Nice
João Almeida claimed stage 4 of Paris-Nice today after the Portuguese rider nixed Jonas Vingegaard on the line to win a rain-soaked stage at La Loges des Gardes.
Vingegaard put in a stinging attack with two kilometers to go, quickly distancing Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), the only rider able to initially hold the wheel of the rampaging Dane.
From there, Vingegaard quickly caught and passed the last man standing at the head of the race, Tobias Foss (Ineos Grenadiers), and immediately pushed on under the flamme rouge.
Matteo Jorgenson offered a defense for his two-time Tour de France champion teammate, as he attempted to mark moves from UAE Emirates duo Almeida and Brandon McNulty as they looked to get back on terms. However, As Vingegaard faded, the race leader was unable to hold off Visma-Lease a Bike’s rivals as Almeida caught and passed the Danish rider with the finish line in sight.
Vinegaard came to Paris-Nice hinting he’d be willing to work for defending champion Jorgenson, but the Dane marked early attacks on the Cat. 1 summit and then countered to drop everyone, later hitting the final kilometer, but it wasn’t enough.
Almeida and Brandon McNulty kept the pace high in the Jorgenson GC group, and the UAE Emirates rider surged in the closing 500m to steal away the stage win.
“I am super happy. It was a hard stage. We had some snow and I think we deserved it. I am happy for it,” Almeida said. “I was feeling good. I am not the best in the cold temperatures, and I was suffering, but I never gave up. The climb wasn’t steep enough. Jonas attacked at a good moment, but I am super happy to win.”
The stage was stopped early in the day under severe weather conditions of rain, snow, cold, and hail, but resumed to reach the finish line as planned.
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