Paris-Nice 2023 – Stage 4 [LAST 10 KM]

March 8, 2023

Paris-Nice 2023 – Stage 4 – Saint-Amand-Montrond – La Loge des Gardes : 164,7 km

Before the globalisation of the cycling calendar, Paris-Nice marked the beginning of a new cycling season and the start of a long, winding road towards the Tour de France in midsummer. As it usually falls in early March, the race also marks a symbolic shift from winter to spring. This seasonal transition is what characterises the week-long stage race and why many nickname it ‘The Race to the Sun’. The format and flavour of the race has chopped and changed over its 90-year history, but for the most part it has followed a tried-and-tested formula of seven road stages and one – often decisive – individual time trial. Wind-battered stages through France’s central hinterland characterise the first half of the race and give the Classics specialists and hardy rouleurs a chance to shine. The mountains then start to rear their heads as the race skirts Provence and heads ever closer to the finish in Nice. It’s then on the final stage, in the capital of the French Riviera, where the race routinely draws to a dramatic close. For decades this final stage took the form of a mountain time trial up the infamous Col d’Èze climb, but in more recent years the organisers have replaced this iconic time trial with a hilly and incredibly unpredictable road stage that regularly catches out the race leader.

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) wrestled back control of Paris-Nice on its first summit finish on stage 4, riding away from his Tour de France rival Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) to win atop La Loge des Gardes.

Having already responded to an opening attack from Vingegaard, the Slovenian bridged across to another attacker, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), and remarkably cracked his main rival in the process.

Pogačar outsprinted Gaudu atop the 6.7% climb to claim his fifth victory of the season, with Gino Mäder (Bahrain Victorious) placing third as Vingegaard was passed by various members of the GC group.

The rider who took Pogačar’s Tour de France crown last year eventually dragged himself across the line in sixth place some 43 seconds down.

It was quite the implosion, given the way Vingegaard had kicked off the attacking with 4.3km to go – drawing Pogačar into response but not into collaboration – and even more so given that Vingegaard looked to have shut down Pogačar’s subsequent attack. He was late to respond and started well on the back foot but slowly clawed his way back to within just a few metres from Pogačar’s back wheel, only for the Slovenian to accelerate through a bend and the gap to creep open again.

From there, it yawned to a gaping hole that leaves Pogačar firmly in control of Paris-Nice and drawing first blood in their first direct confrontation of 2023.

“I was a little bit [surprised],” Pogačar said of Vingegaard’s demise. “First he launched the attack and thought he was feeling super super great, so I didn’t counter – I was waiting for the rest.

“In the end, it was really tough and I think he just missed a little bit to catch me then he couldn’t close and cracked a little bit.”

Pogačar moved into the yellow jersey as the new overall leader, his time gaps buffeted by yet more time bonuses. Not only did he collect 10 seconds for the stage win, he’d also grabbed one at the intermediate sprint to take his collection for Paris-Nice to 23 seconds – the exact amount of time he conceded to Vingegaard in Tuesday’s team time trial.

Pogačar has a 10-second lead over second-placed Gaudu, who also had a strong TTT, while Vingegaard is in third place but some 44 seconds down. Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla) at 56 seconds is the only other rider within a minute of Pogačar.

“It was not in my mind to take yellow today, but you don’t say no to yellow, so I’m happy,” Pogačar said.

Results :