Pogačar moves into white at Tirreno-Adriatico

Tadej Pogačar continues to climb the standings in Tirreno-Adriatico, with the Slovenian sprinting to 8th and moving up to 5th in the GC on stage 3. Another stage with an uphill finish (500 meters with gradients from 3 to 5%) ended with a sprint and victory for the Dutch champion Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), who overcame Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Davide Ballerini (Deceunick-Quick Step).

On what was the longest stage of the race, 219 km from Monticiano to Gualdo Tadino, the UAE team fought to protect Pogačar who now wears the white jersey as leader of the young rider classification.

Pogačar will face the queen stage of the Corsa dei Due Mari, from Terni to Prati di Tivo, 148 km with the ascent of the Capannelle Pass, wearing the white jersey and starting from 5th position in the general classification (+20 “from Van Aert). 13.8 km at 4.5% average gradient which crests at 41.5 km from the finish) and finishing uphill (14.7 km at 7%).

Pogačar: “I am happy to be able to start tomorrow wearing the white. It will be tough stage I think. I’ll be looking for a good result: 20 seconds separate me from the top of the standings, we will see in Prati di Tivo if it is a small or substantial margin. I’m feeling good but today was a hard long day in cold temperatures so the focus now is on recovery ”.

In France, Brandon McNulty saw his participation Paris-Nice end in the worst possible way.

105 km from the end of the 6th stage (Brignoles-Biot, 202.4 km), the American, who started this morning in third in the general classification and as the leader of the youth classification, was forced to retire due to a fall.
The tests carried out in the hospital excluded serious consequences, highlighting abrasions and some wounds, promptly sutured.

The stage ended with a win for Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), the fastest of the group of 38 riders which also contained Rui Costa.

Roglic is now the leader of the general classification, Rui Costa is 31st at 2’43 “.

The 7th stage is an uphill finish at Valdeblore la Colmiane (departure from Le Broc, 119.2 km).

Tirreno-Adriatico – Order of arrival 3rd stage

1. Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) 5h24’18 ”
2. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) s.t.
3. Davide Ballerini (Deceuninck-Quick Step) s.t.
8. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.

Tirreno-Adriatico – General classification after the 3rd stage

1. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) 14h01’47 ”
2. Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) +4 ”
3. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceininck-Quick Step) +10 ”
5. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) +20 “

Paris-Nice – Order of arrival 6th stage

1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 4h40’22 ”
2. Cristophe Laporte (Cofidis) s.t.
3. Michael Matthews (Team BikeExchange) s.t.
37. Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.

Paris-Nice – General classification after the 6th stage

1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 4h40’22 ”
2. Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-hansgrohe) +41 ”
3. Ion Izagirre (Astana-Premier Tech) +50 ”
31. Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates + 2’43 “