The 2021 edition of Paris-Nice finished in dramatic fashion today when overnight leader Primoz Roglic crashed. Photo: Twitter @ParisNice
The 2021 edition of Paris-Nice finished in dramatic fashion today when overnight leader Primoz Roglic crashed twice, paving the way for Maximilian Schachmann to defend his title.
Magnus Cort (EF Education-Nippo) won the final stage as Rogliz was left to rue yet another case of cruel misfortune.
The Jumbo-Visma team leader held a comfortable lead in last year’s Tour de France only to lose it on the penultimate stage to Slovenian compatriot Tadej Pogacar who snatched victory in the shadows of Paris.
Fast-forward to this year’s Paris-Nice and Roglic looked in sublime form, winning a record three of the first seven stages only for bad luck to strike.
“It’s not the end of the world,” said Roglic who dislocated his shoulder in the first fall.
“It was how it was, so there’s not much to add. Of course, we are disappointed but, like I said, the world will not stop and we will go forward.”
Even Schachmann sounded downbeat after the race.
“It’s not nice to win like that, I have mixed feelings,” the German said.
“Suddenly I’m here with the yellow jersey, but I don’t know what to think. I don’t know if I can be happy.”
In the end Roglic finished the concluding stage 3:08 behind and 15th in the final standings.
Germany’s Schachmann, who started the final stage 52 seconds behind Roglic, finished 10th to successfully defend his title by 19 seconds over Russia’s Aleksandr Vlasov.
Stage eight results:
1. Magnus Cort (DEN) EF Education-Nippo 02:16:58
2. Christophe Laporte (FRA) Cofidis
3. Pierre Latour (FRA) Total Direct Energie
4. Dylan Teuns (BEL) Bahrain Victorious
5. Warren Barguil (FRA) Team Arkea-Samsic
6. Dylan van Baarle (NED) Ineos Grenadiers
7. Ion Izagirre Insausti (ESP) Astana-Premier Tech
8. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Movistar Team
9. Yves Lampaert (BEL) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10. Maximilian Schachmann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe
Final GC standings:
1. Maximilian Schachmann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe 28:49:51
2. Aleksandr Vlasov (RUS) Astana-Premier Tech 00:19
3. Ion Izagirre Insausti (ESP) Astana-Premier Tech 00:23
4. Lucas Hamilton (AUS) Team BikeExchange 00:41
5. Tiesj Benoot (BEL) Team DSM 00:42
6. Guillaume Martin (FRA) Cofidis 01:14
7. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious 01:18
8. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Movistar Team 01:29
9. Aurelien Paret Peintre (FRS) AG2R Citroën Team 01:31
10. Gino Mader (SWI) Bahrain Victorious 01:32
🛠 🇸🇮@rogla a été victime d’un problème mécanique. Il a dû changer de vélo et tente de réintégrer le peloton.
🛠 🇸🇮@rogla had a mechanical problem. He had to change his bike and is trying to get back into the peloton. #ParisNice pic.twitter.com/u0NCXsol7l
— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 14, 2021
