We cannot rush, there will be time to assimilate and contextualize the facts. But, at least today, the impression left on us by the fourth stage of Paris-Nice is that what we experienced in the past Tour de France, with that Tadej Pogacar’s crisis in the Granon, It could just have been an accident. Because the number one in world cycling, as if he wanted to put things in their place, demonstrated in a new one-on-one with Jonas Vingegaard who is superior to any mortal. On the ascent to The Lodge of Gardes (6.7 km at 7%), the Slovenian resisted an initial attack from the Dane, then counterattacked and, based on rhythm, left his arch-rival to a world who, helpless, saw how he was gaining ground every second from a distance. Only a fantastic David Gaudu was minimally near of a Pogacar who imposed his top speed in the final meters to take the first victory of his record in the Carrera del Sol and put on the yellow jersey.
The day was cold and rainy from minutes before departure. There was not an excessive desire for battle at the beginning, so the first kilometers passed with the compact group. Finally, seven brave men embarked on the adventure to establish the breakaway: Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny), Larry Warbasse (AG2R), Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech), Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché), Maurice Ballerstedt (Alpecin) and Jonas Gregaard. and Anders Skaarseth (One-X). The UAE kept them at bay, controlling the situation at the head of the peloton at all times. pogi I was looking forward to the outcome…
In the last 60 kilometers there were a series of small climbs that would serve to accumulate wear and tear for the final climb. With the peloton getting closer, Eenkhoorn decided to go solo and distance himself from the rest of the escapees. With the push of the Emirates as a whole, the neutralization came just before a key moment: the intermediate sprint. This time the set changed, but not the leading actor: Pogacar accelerated again and crossed the line third. Two more seconds of bonus for the bag. At that time he already accumulated 14 ″.
Arrived at the final ascent, more than firecrackers there were mascletá, typical of these dates so fallas. The UAE imposed a beastly rhythm from the first ramps, with a Imperial Grobschartner who completely isolated Vingegaard. The Dane thought that the best defense would be a good attack, so he took action at 4.3km. As expected, only a Slovenian prodigy was able to follow his lead. But unlike the first day, this time it was Pogi who was not willing to take over. He commanded, marked the times. His law. The small group of chosen ones neutralized them and Gaudu took the opportunity to leave ahead. He made his way, but only until when Pogacar wanted: attack, sustained rhythm to leave Vingegaard out of the game and ride to victory. Gaudu endured with him, but the ‘Canibal’ did his thing in the sprint. Vingegaard arrived dejected, almost more morally than physically, because he finished sixth at the finish line, surpassed by Gino Mäder, Aurelien Paret-Peintre and Kevin Vauquelin. Now, 44″ separates the general pogi and Jonas, but beyond the tangible, the sensations are very different…
Results of the 4th stage
1st Tadej Pogacar (UAE) – 4h 01:17
2nd David Gaudu (Groupama) – at 1″
3rd Gino Mäder (Bahrain) – 34″
6th Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo) – 43″
General of the 81st Paris-Nice
1st Tadej Pogacar (UAE) – 11h 55:00
2nd David Gaudu (Groupama) – at 10″
3rd Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo) – 44″
4th Simon Yates (Jayco) – 56″
5th Gino Mäder (Bahrain) – 1:19
