photo credits @ Paris-Nice
Harold Tejada made the most of a hilly and thrilling finale with a counter-attack over the top of the Côte de Saignon with 5 kilometers to go, while a shattered peloton was too late to react.
In his wake, French national champion Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers) was the fastest from the group to take second place ahead of Lewis Askey (NSN), while Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) safely navigated the day’s challenges to retain the leader’s yellow and white jersey ahead of the final weekend around Nice.
Race Highlights
It took 42 kilometers of racing before a four-man breakaway group containing Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers), Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Staff Cras (Soudal Quick-Step) and Arthur Kluckers (Tudor) set-off from the peloton.
From there, the escapees opened up a modest advantage of around two minutes, as they tackled the Côte de Bonnieux. However, the peloton was later successful at reducing the gap to 1:20 long the final climbs of the Col de l’Aire Deï Masco and Côte de Saignon.
Cras was eventually dropped from the group, leaving the remaining trio out front during the final 5 kilometers.
Arrieta and Tarling upped the ante, while Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) took up the reins of the chase, with Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) later reeling in the leaders just before the summit.
However, the French rider’s move was quickly nullified by a counter-attack from Tejada, who opened up a slight gap of 10-seconds that held along the descent and onto the finish in the town of Apt.
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