March 17/19 21:11 pm - Paris-Nice: Stage 8 and Final GC

Posted by Editoress on 03/17/19
 

Harassed all day by a formidable Nairo Quintana, Egan Bernal (Sky) kept his cool to win the 77th edition of Paris-Nice at 22. While some expected Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck-Quick Step) to challenge the young Colombian in this finale around Nice, it was Quintana who led a fierce battle, à la Contador, to try and topple his compatriot. But Team Sky were too solid and won the Race to the Sun for the 6th time in the last seven years. Quintana was rewarded for his efforts by a second place at the end of the final stage won on Promenade des Anglais by Spain's Ion Izagirre (Astana)

De Gendt takes polka-dot
129 riders started at 14:06 from Nice. Four riders did not start, Tony Gallopin (AG2R), Alexander Kristoff (UAE), Daniel McLay (Education First) and Christophe Laporte (Cofidis). On the first climb of the day, a group of 37 riders emerged after a chase of Bob Jungels (Deceuninck-Quick Step): Soler, Annacona, Carretero (Movistar), Yates, Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott), Lopez, Houle, Ion Izagirre, Sanchez (Astana), De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Pozzovivo, Colbrelli, Garcia, Teuns (Bahrain-Merida), Konrad, Grosschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Naesen (AG2R), Sergio Henao (UAE), Bernard, (Trek-Segafredo) Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Jungels (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Zakarin, Politt, Spilak (Katusha), Gesbert, Moinard (Arkea Samsic), Martinez, Van Garderen (Education First), Kelderman (Sunweb), Edet, Perrichon (Cofidis), Antunes, De Marchi (CCC), Calmejane, Hivert (Direct Energie), Pacher (Vital Concept), El Fares (Delko-Marseille-Provence). At the top of the Cote de Levens, Thomas De Gendt, picked up seven points and strengthened his grip on the KOM leader jersey.

Quintana attacks
In the descent Matteo Trentin broke clear and reached the top of Cote de Chateauneuf (2nd cat, km 36.5) with a 10 second lead over his former breakaway companions. Tejay van Garderen (Education First) and Julien El Fares (Delko-Marseille-Provence) chased him on the 2nd category Col de Calaison and reached the top alongside the European champion with a 30-second lead over their former breakaway companions. On the 1st category Cote de Peille, when Tejay van Garderen went on his own, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) surged away from the front of the peloton and joined forces with team-mates Marc Soler and Hector Carrretero to try and upset Team Sky and his compatriot Egan Bernal. At the top of the climb, the hyperactive Quintana was leading a group of 12, comprising himself, last year's winner Marc Soler (Movistar), stage 5 winner Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), Van Garderen, Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), Ion Izagirre (Astana), 2009 winner Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana), Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida), Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Oliver Naesen (AG2R), Stage 7 winner Daniel Martinez (Education First) and Wilco Kelderman (Sunweb).

Izagirre wins stage
With a 50 second lead over the Bernal bunch, Quintana found himself the virtual leader of the Race to the Sun and he moved closer by winning the intermediate sprint of La Turbie (km 78.5) to cut his gap with Bernal to 43 seconds. On the Col d'Eze, where he lost team-mate Soler, Quintana took the race into his hands, reaching the top in the front with a 55 seconds lead over the yellow jersey group. On the descent, the former Giro and Vuelta winner joined forces with Education First Daniel Martinez and Tejay Van Garderen and the gap remained around 55 seconds. On the descent to Nice, Quintana expressed discontent at his breakaway companions for not working with him and Ion Izagirre, 4th in Paris-Nice last year, responded by attacking on a road on which he crashed a year ago. The Spaniard went on his own to clinch a brilliant stage win, yet another for his Astana team. Behind him, the Bernal group controlled and limited the damage, allowing the young Colombian to claim the most prestigious win of his career with a 39 second advantage over Quintana and 1:03 over his team-mate Michal Kwiatkowski, who worked for him all day.

Lone Canadian entry, Hougo Houle (Astana Pro Team) finished 38th on teh stage at 6:00 back and ended the race in 21st overall at 15:20 back.

Egan Bernal (Team Sky)
Green Jersey: Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky)
Polka Dot Jersey: Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal)
White Jersey: Egan Bernal (Team Sky)

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