La Verrière – La Verrière
5 March 2023
169,4 km
Summary
As it was expected, the winner of the first stage of Paris-Nice 2023 came from a bunch sprint: Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) was the best rider in the finale.
The day went down without surprise. After the peloton has chased down the two breakaway riders of the day, Paul Ourselin (TotalEnergies) and Jonas Gregaard Wilsly (Uno-X), basically, they started to prepare for the bunch sprint.
But first, with 20 km to go, they had to climb the second 3rd category ascent of the day. Nelson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) launched his attack and took the maximum points, but behind him came also Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). After the climb, the peloton split into half temporarily, and Powless rode solo at the front of the race for a while.
With 6 km to go, there was a time bonus check point, where Pogacar collected the maximum 6″, while Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) went throught it with empty hands.
The Slovenien is in 3rd position in the general classification behind Tim Merlier and Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe).
The 2nd stage of the race will be much more suited for the sprinters.
TOP20 results
1 141 MERLIER Tim SOQ BEL B:10″ 00″
2 42 BENNETT Sam BOH IRL B:06″
3 136 PEDERSEN Mads TFS DEN B:04″
4 5 *KOOIJ Olav TJV NED
5 151 *DE LIE Arnaud LTD BEL
6 15 MATTHEWS Michael JAY AUS
7 82 COQUARD Bryan COF FRA
8 123 GARCIA CORTINA Ivan MOV ESP
9 173 *GROVES Kaden ADC AUS
10 62 DEMARE Arnaud GFC FRA
11 184 *MARIT Arne ICW BEL
12 47 VAN POPPEL Danny BOH NED
13 104 NIELSEN Magnus Cort EFE DEN
14 164 DUJARDIN Sandy TEN FRA
15 77 *WRIGHT Fred TBV GBR
16 192 BOL Cees AST NED
17 94 DEWULF Stan ACT BEL
18 167 TURGIS Anthony TEN FRA
19 107 *VAN DEN BERG Marijn EFE NED
20 111 *VAUQUELIN Kevin ARK FRA
LIVE UPDATE
Finish
Tim Merlier wins the stage.
2 km to go
Latour is back in the peloton.
Everything is about a bunch sprint now.
4 km to go
Pogacar and Vingegaard decided it just does not worth to ride at the front, only Latour remains. It would be a miracle if he would manage till the finish alone.
6 km to go
Pogacar catches the 6″ bonus. He, Vingegaard and Latour at the front of the race.
Meanwhile the sprinter teams are organizing themselves for the finale.
7 km to go
Powless has been caught.
16 km to go
A split in the peloton after the climb.
Powless attacks again. Was it really his intention to go solo? Or did he expect some company? Anyway, he is riding at the front the race alone currently.
20,5 km to go
Nelson Powless launched an attack, but couldn’t ride away, Tadej Pogacar was right behind him. Powless cressed the climb first, Pogacar second. Arnauld Demare third.
30 km to go
Gruppo completto. The pink jersey of EF Education is the most visible thing now at the front of the peloton. Also Jumbo and UAE are there. Ineos riders try to find their place too.
40 km to go
Gap is around half minute. But more interesting is that Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates appear at the front of the main bunch!
50 km to go
The gap dropped under 1 minute.
A reminder: the second 3rd category climb comes with 20 km to go. The peloton is most likely to catch the two breakaway riders before the ascent.
65km to go
Paul Ourselin (TotalEnergies) and Jonas Gregaard Wilsly (Uno-X) are in the break since the first small, uncategorized ascent of the race with cca 150 km to go. They had a gapcog 3 and half minutes. Now the advantage is less than 2 minutes.
Take a glimpse at all stages of Paris-Nice 2023 >>
La Verrière – La Verrière
5 March 2023
169,5 km
