Almost 160 kilometers stood on Sunday at the opening of the 80th edition of Paris-Nice on the program, including four climbs of the 3rd category. But before the decision on the 1st stage was heralded around Mantes-La-Ville, Matthew Holmes (Lotto-Soudal) and Aimé de Gendt (Wanty-Gobert) were allowed to try as outliers. The main field allowed the duo but not more than three minutes ahead, so it quickly became clear that the leader would have no chance.
Already after the second mountain rating of the 3rd category, they were also caught again. The short clutter used three riders again for an attack, but also for Evgeni Fedorov (Astana), Alexis Gougard (KTM) and Frederik Frison (Lotto-Soudal), it should not be enough, about ten kilometers before the target the field drove again.
The decision then fell in the last increase, which declare about seven kilometers in front of the target. Suddenly Jumob-Visa Print, the Belgian Equipe launched with the French Christophe Laporte, the Slovenian Tour Star Primoz Roglic and the Belgian Champion Wout Van Aert equal three drivers at the top. And this trio could not follow the goal anymore. Ultimately, it was new to Laporte, who was allowed to celebrate for the victory.
German drivers had nothing to do with the exit of the race. The Berlin Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), who had won the past two years Paris-Nice, came as a 55th goal and lost in Roglic already 42 seconds. Best German driver was George Zimmermann (Wanty-Gobert).
1. Stage Mantes-La-Ville – Mantes-La-Ville (159.80 km):
1. Christophe Laporte (France) – Jumbo-Visa 3:48:38 hrs.; 2. Primoz Roglic (Slovenia) – Jumbo Visa + 0 sec.; 3. Wout Van Aert (Belgium) – Jumbo Visa; 4. Pierre-Roger Latour (France) – Team Totalergies + 19; 5. MADS Pedersen (Denmark) – Trek – Segafredo + 22; 6. Biniam Girmay Hailu (Eritrea) – Wanty-Gobert; 7th Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spain) – Movistar Team; 8. Fred Wright (Great Britain) – Bahrain Victorious; 9. Jasper Philipsen (Belgium) – Alpecin-Fenix; 10. Florian Senechal (France) – Decuninck-Quick-Step;… 44. Georg Zimmermann (Neusäß) – Wanty-Gobert; 53. Simon Gasks (Freiburg im Breisgau) – Cofidis; 55. Maximilian Schachmann (Berlin) – Bora-Hansgrohe + 36; 74. Nils Politt (Hürth) – Bora Hansgrohe + 2:04 min.; 82. John Degenkolb (Oberursel) – Team DSM; 112. Maximilian Walscheid (Heidelberg) – Cofidis + 2:43; 142. Nico Denz (Waldshut Tiengen) – Team DSM + 6: 46
Appreciation after the 1st stage:
*1. Christophe Laporte (France) – Jumbo Visa 3:48:28 hrs.; 2. Primoz Roglic (Slovenia) – Jumbo Visa + 4 sec.; 3. Wout Van Aert (Belgium) – Jumbo Visa + 6; 4. Pierre-Roger Latour (France) – Team Totalergies + 29; 5. MADS Pedersen (Denmark) – Trek – SegaFredo + 32; 6. Biniam Girmay Hailu (Eritrea) – Wanty-Gobert; 7th Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spain) – Movistar Team; 8. Fred Wright (Great Britain) – Bahrain Victorious; 9. Jasper Philipsen (Belgium) – Alpecin-Fenix; 10. Florian Senechal (France) – Decuninck-Quick-Step;… “* 44. Georg Zimmermann (Neusäß) – Wanty-Gobert; 53. Simon Sagke (Freiburg im Breisgau) – Cofidis; 55. Maximilian Schachmann (Berlin) – Bora-Hansgrohe + 46; 75th Nils Polit ( Hürth) – Bora-Hansgrohe + 2:14 min.; 83. John Degenkolb (Oberursel) – Team DSM; 112. Maximilian Walscheid (Heidelberg) – Cofidis + 2:53; 142. Nico Denz (Waldshut Tiengen) – Team DSM + 6: 56 “