Paris - Nice 2023: Pogacar wins first uphill finish to take yellow

image: Cor VosTadej Pogacar climbs to victory in the 4th stage of Paris-Nice. The double Tour de France winner outguns David Gaudu in a two-up sprint to move into the overall race lead. The Frenchman sits in second, Jonas Vingegaard in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage Paris-Nice 2023

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. David Gaudu (fra) + 0.01
3. Gino Mäder (swi) + 0.34
4. Aurélien Paret-Peintre (fra) + 0.42
5. Kévin Vauquelin (fra) + 0.43
6. Jonas Vingegaard (nld) s.t.
7. Romain Bardet (fra) + 0.51
8. Daniel Felipe Martínez (col) s.t.
9. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
10. Matteo Jorgenson (usa) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. David Gaudu (fra) + 0.10
3. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 0.44
4. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.56
5. Gino Mäder (swi) + 1.19
6. Romain Bardet (fra) + 1.40
7. Daniel Felipe Martínez (col) s.t.
8. Matteo Jorgenson (usa) + 1.42
9. Neilson Powless (usa) + 1.44
10. Matteo Sobrero (ita) + 1.54

Race report
It’s a slow opening until Lilian Calmejane and Maurice Ballerstedt decide to break away after 25 kilometres. Anders Skaarseth tracks them down before Pascal Eenkhoorn, Larry Warbasse and Hugo Houle make it six at the front. Kom leader Jonas Gregaard is the last rider to come across.

The seven carve out a a 5 minutes lead before the peloton splits with 85 kilometres to go. Leader Magnus Cort is in the first group along with Tadej Pogacar, while Jonas Vingegaard missed out. Yet, the peloton regroups.

Ballerstedt loses contact on the Côte du Vernet, while Eenkhoorn heads out alone with 38 kilometres remaining. It’s a 6 kilometres effort before he falls back into the group just before the Côte de Chival Rigon. Their lead falls below 2 minutes in the climb.

The last attacker, Anders Skaarseth, is caught on the line of the intermediate sprint by Michael Matthews. The Australian gains 6 seconds, the Norwegian crosses the line in second, and Tadej Pogacar in third.

Champoussin attacks early on the finish climb, but it does not last long. Moments later overnight leader Cort is dropped, while Powless and former winner Schachmann lose contact too.

Vingegaard accelerates with 4.2 kilometres to go and Pogacar follows him like a shadow. Gaudu counter-attacks when the two are caught. The Frechman opens up a 20 seconds before Pogacar goes again. Vingegaard goes after him without closing the gap.

Pogacar tracks down Gaudu and the two push on together. Pogacar opens the sprint early, Gaudu does not give in easy, but another dig by the Slovene and he is clear. Stage win and leader’s jersey the two time Tour de France champion!

Another interesting read: route 4th stage Paris-Nice 2023.