This 81st edition wasted no time in becoming lively. From its launch in the Yvelines, the Paris-Nice peloton offered great predispositions to the show. Victory went to Belgian champion Tim Merlier, clear winner of a bunch sprint ahead of Sam Benett and Mad Pedersen.
This final between the leaders of the exercise at La Verrière was not necessarily the most likely scenario at the start. With some pretty mounds on the program, there was enough to thwart the predictions. And that’s what almost happened.
The stage, long stuck on a false rhythm, unbridled in the final kilometers. The peloton first took over the Ourselin-Gregaard duo without difficulty at 30km from the finish before stretching out at a well-targeted place, Côte de Milon-la-Chapelle (0.5km at 12% average). A first gap was made, on the initiative of the American Neilson Powless. But it was not followed by effects. If Pogacar showed good dispositions, his rival Jonas Vingegaard was less to his advantage.
6 seconds that could count
This balance of power was verified a little later. The climb of 17 Turns allowed the Slovenian to pocket six bonus seconds, first at the top ahead of the Frenchman Pierre Latour and the Dane. Latour tried to continue his effort alone. In vain.
Once the bazaar was over, the teams of sprinters were able to launch hostilities. Tim Merlier’s Soudal Quick-Step was the most effective in capturing this first dance and therefore the general classification jersey. Tomorrow, victory again seems promised to a sprinter. Why not Bryan Coquard (7th, this Sunday) or Arnaud Démare (10th)?
The other big winner of this first day is obviously called Tadej Pogacar. The UAE rider pocketed a small nest egg in the general classification on his Danish rival in this ascent of the 17 Turns, mischievously placed by the organizers in the final. This lead could count in a race where the final victory is often decided by seconds. The duel has only just begun. From Tuesday, the team time trial could allow Vingegaard, winner of the last Tour de France, to catch up some of his delay. Before the big explanation at the end of the week in the South-East of France.