Paris-Nice 2021: Roglic solos to yellow jersey

foto: Cor VosStage 4 of Paris-Nice travels over six intermediate climbs to an uphill finale in wine town Chiroubles. Primoz Roglic solos to victory with a late attack to move into the overall race lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage Paris-Nice 2021

1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) + 0.12
3. Guillaume Martin (fra) s.t.
4. Tiesj Benoot (bel) s.t.
5. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.
6. Lucas Hamilton (aus) s.t.
7. David Gaudu (fra) + 0.16
8. Quentin Pacher (fra) s.t.
9. Pierre Latour (fra) s.t.
10. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) + 0.35
3. Brandon McNulty (usa) + 0.37
4. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 0.41
5. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.43
6. Matteo Jorgenson (usa) + 0.58
7. Tiesj Benoot (bel) + 1.05
8. Lucas Hamilton (aus) + 1.09
9. Luis Léon Sánchez (spa) + 1.11
10. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.12

12. David Gaudu (fra) + 1.15
13. Jack Haig (aus) s.t.
14. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 1.20
15. Guillaume Martin (fra) + 1.31

Race report
Julien Bernard, Anthony Perez, Fabien Doubey, Jose Joaquin Rojas, Oliver Naesen and Oscar Riesebeek jump clear shortly after the start. The six carve out a lead of more than 5 minutes before the peloton takes the reins.

Perez takes the lead in the KOM competition after cresting the Col des Chèvres, Col de la Pistole, Côte de Croix de Montmain and Côte de Croix de la roche de Solutré in first position.

On the Beaujolais circuit Perez cements his KOM lead at Mont Brouilly, while Bernard is the first rider over the Col de Durbize.

In the second Mont Brouilly ascent the lead falls below 1 minute. Yellow jersey Bissegger can’t follow the pace in the main group before Geoghegan Hart and Gaudu crash in the descent. The Frenchman makes it back to the pack, while the Giro winner abandons a few kilometres later.

Bernard pushes on alone and Cavagna and LL Sánchez goes after him. The two tackle the finish climb 10 seconds behind Bernard and 40 seconds ahead of the peloton. Cavagna suffers a mechanical and is forced to change bikes.

Sánchez joins Bernard to leave the Frenchman behind with 4 kilometres remaining. But, to no avail.

Roglic accelerates inside the last 3 kilometres. He gobbles up Sánchez and pushes on alone. He gains 3 bonus seconds in the (late) intermediate sprint and another 10 seconds on the line before a group of five – Schachmann, Martin, Benoot, Vlasov, Hamilton – crosses the line 12 seconds behind him.

Roglic is the new GC leader, 35 seconds ahead of title defender Schachmann.

Another interesting read: route 4th stage Paris-Nice 2021.