Primož Roglič continued the Jumbo-Visma present at Paris-Good on Saturday’s stage up the Col de Turini, sprinting to victory from a small group of GC contenders to take his staff’s third win of the week.
The Slovenian, who has held the lead since stage 5 after inheriting it from teammates Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte, additional prolonged his general lead on the climb, well-known for that includes within the Monte Carlo Rally and showing in Paris-Good for less than the second time.
He added eight seconds to his lead over Simon Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco). The Briton now lies 47 seconds down, whereas new third-placed man Dani Martínez (Ineos Grenadiers) is at a minute. It is a comfy lead for Roglič heading into Sunday’s finale in Good, however after final yr’s final day catastrophe there’s nonetheless area to be cautious with at some point left.
“It is a stage of solely 115 kilometres so there will not be many ways concerned,” Roglič mentioned of the day, which incorporates 5 climbs within the hills round Good. “They’ll fly from the beginning. It will likely be onerous to manage.
“We noticed final yr that it will likely be a brilliant demanding one. It is the decisive day and I am prepared.”
Final yr’s race noticed Roglič crash twice and dislocate his shoulder on the ultimate day. What was then a comfy 52-second GC lead evaporated as he battled to remain in contact together with his rivals earlier than lastly succumbing and dropping three minutes, ending the race in fifteenth general.
On Saturday, his Jumbo-Visma directeur sportif Grischa Niermann sounded a cautious be aware, whereas stating that he, Roglič, and the staff remained assured.
“We’re not going to depend ourselves wealthy simply but,” Niermann informed Het Laatste Nieuws. “It’s once more a treacherous stage, numerous up and down, one climb after one other.
“There are tough descents, too, and the climate can be unhealthy with rain and the chilly. We’re assured nevertheless it’s not over but.”
Nonetheless, there was time for Roglič to have fun his stage victory, his first of the brand new season after ending second to Laporte and Van Aert on levels 1 and 4. He endured a number of assaults from his GC rivals, together with from Yates, on the Turini, preserving in contact with ease, earlier than utilising his well-known fast end within the last sprint to the road.
“It was a quick race from the start, however I felt good,” he mentioned. “I used to be all the time in a position to comply with and preserve management in the course of the assaults by Yates and Nairo Quintana, amongst others. So sure, all the pieces went as hoped.
“It was racing on the restrict. There have been a couple of of us who have been effectively matched, and we pushed one another to the restrict. I had the legs at the moment so it was a fantastic day.
“It is good to get affirmation that you’re doing effectively as a result of after the winter you are all the time a bit unsure.”
Roglič later took to the rostrum to have fun together with his trademark ‘Telemark’ ski leaping pose, whereas his two-year-old son Lev joined him on the rostrum too, additionally performing the now-famous celebration pose.
“This was my finest podium ever,” Roglič mentioned later. “We’re going to apply a bit extra although, as a result of it is not 100 per cent good but. Subsequent time we’ll attempt to do it even higher.
“[My wife and son] are my largest followers. It is good to win for them and on my native climb, too.”
😍 Un fils très fier de son père !😍 A proud son! 💛 🇸🇮 @rogla #ParisNice pic.twitter.com/YjEAseYgszMarch 12, 2022
