photo credits @ Paris-Nice
Jonas Vingegaard claimed an impressive victory in stage 5 of Paris-Nice today, crossing the finish in solo fashion after jettisoning the field 21 kilometers to go.
The Dane had pulled on the leader’s yellow jersey in the pouring rain at Uchon on yesterday, and tightened his grip on overall victory after shaking off his rivals to coast to victory in Colombier-le-Vieux in south-east France.
The Visma-Lease-a-bike rider had attacked on the Saint-Jean-de-Muzols climb during the hilly 206.3km stage and crossed the line 2min 02sec ahead of French rider Valentin Paret-Peintre.
“I really wanted to win today and so did the team,” said Vingegaard, delighted to win on the roads where he crashed last year and was forced to pull out of the race the following day.
Vingegaard said last year’s crash had been on his mind while riding on Thursday, adding: “It’s nice to take revenge now, and to win here on such a beautiful day, the weather is beautiful, and it’s been an amazing day for me and the team.”
Vingegaard increased his lead at the top of the overall standings to 3min 22sec on Colombian Dani Martinez and is well set to claim victory in Nice on Sunday.
“He destroyed everyone,” said Belgian Victor Campenaerts, one of the two-time Tour de France winner’s most loyal teammates.
“He’s in phenomenal form. He came here to crush everyone. I’m already looking forward to supporting him in his two big goals, the Giro and the Tour de France.”
Soudal Quick-Step’s Paret-Peintre pulled clear of the pursuing group who arrived some 18sec later to take second place on the day.
“I knew Jonas was going to attack on the steepest part of the second climb,” said the French rider.
“When Campenaerts took his final turn at the front, I thought: ‘Come on, I have to suffer a little longer and then Jonas will go.’ He’s the strongest, and when you’re the strongest, it’s normal to want to win.”
And Vingegaard warned he was hungry for more success going into Friday’s sixth stage of the ‘Race to the Sun’ which is a 179.3km hilly ride from Barbentane, south of Avignon, heading east to Apt.
“It’s not over, there’s still three stages left, a lot can happen, but we just have to stay focused until Nice.”
Elsewhere, the INEOS duo of Vauquelin and Oscar Onley were second and third on GC respectively, but Onley fell while in the front group and steadily lost time despite a huge pull from Josh Tarling, while Vauquelin was dropped earlier on amidst crosswinds.
At the head of the race, a leading quartet that included Vingegaard, and three Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe riders — Dani Martínez plus twins Tim van Dijke and Mick van Dijke — built a lead of over three minutes.
Mick van Dijke dropped back with six kilometers remaining before Vingegaard launched clear under the flamme rouge. His attack was explosive, gaining 41 seconds over Martinez in just one kilometer, ensuring he would take over Juan Ayuso’s yellow jersey.
Vingegaard’s victory comes almost exactly a year after he crashed out of Paris-Nice last year, suffering a concussion which significantly affected his Tour preparations.
He’s now in pole position to win the race, making it Visma Lease-a-Bike’s third straight title in this event, as his American teammate Matteo Jorgenson has won the past two editions.
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