Tadej Pogacar blitzes field with dominant win to take Paris-Nice title from David Gaudu and Jonas Vingegaard

12.03.2023 - 18:31 eurosport.com

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) took a dominant victory on the final stage of Paris-Nice to win the title for the first time in his career, as he underlined his status as the rider to beat in men’s cycling.

It was Pogacar’s third stage win in a row as he won Paris-Nice at the first time of asking, having opted to compete in Tirreno-Adriatico in recent years.

Ad He took the stage victory by 33 seconds from Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), and was 53 seconds ahead of the latter in the final overall standings.

Paris — NiceParis-Nice Stage 8 highlights as terrific Tadej Pogacar roars to first titleAN HOUR AGO “I always feel I’m good in the first races,” said Pogacar. “It was always my dream to win Paris-Nice.

rowing cycling sprint win Tadej Pogacar Jonas Vingegaard Uae

Tadej Pogacar says that his best chance of victory at Sunday’s Tour of Flanders will be by making it to the end alone and avoiding a sprint finish with the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. The trio are the favourites in Belgium; Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) warmed up with victory at the E3 Saxo Classic, while Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is the defending champion after edging out Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) last year. Ad Two-time Tour de France winner Pogacar acknowledged ahead of the event that his best chance lies in losing Van Aert and Van der Poel on the cobble-strewn 273km course and not relying on the Oude Kwaremont-Paterberg finale.

Wout van Aert will 'regret' letting Christophe Laporte win Gent-Wevelgem – Eddy Merckx and Tom Boonen wade in

Belgian legend Eddy Merckx has admitted he would not have gifted a team-mate victory like Wout van Aert did for Christophe Laporte at Gent-Wevelgem, while Tom Boonen has suggested the Jumbo-Visma star will “regret” his kindness. Van Aert escaped with Laporte after an attack on the penultimate ascent of the Kemmelberg. Once the pair had built an unassailable lead, the 2021 champion decided to let the Frenchman take victory.

Wout van Aert snatches victory at E3 Saxo Classic as Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar attacks fail

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) got his rewards for suffering up and down the cobbles as he defended his title at E3 Saxo Classic after an absorbing scrap with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). Despite being distanced on the climbs under pressure from his two superstar rivals, the elastic never fully snapped, allowing the Belgian to latch back on before winning a three-up sprint in the dress rehearsal for the Tour of Flanders on April 2. Ad “I really wanted to focus on the sprint and try to stick to one plan,” said Van Aert.

Alberto Contador exclusive on Tadej Pogacar's Tour de France revenge mission - 'He looks unbeatable but…'

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) may look “unbeatable”, but Eurosport expert Alberto Contador has warned there are few guarantees when it comes to the Tour de France. Pogacar has started the season in scintillating fashion as he targets revenge at the Tour, having seen Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) end his two-year streak in the yellow jersey. Ad He bludgeoned Vingegaard to comfortably win Paris-Nice earlier in March, while he also boasts wins at Vuelta Andalucia and Jaen Paraiso Interior in 2023.

Alberto Contador tips Remco Evenepoel for 'great season', praises decision to ride Giro d’Italia in 2023

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) has made a “good decision” to ride the Giro d’Italia in 2023 rather than the Tour de France, seven-time Grand Tour champion and Eurosport expert Alberto Contador has claimed. Evenepoel delivered a sensational maiden Grand Tour title at La Vuelta last year, fuelling excitement over a potential showdown with Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) this summer. Ad However, he has opted to race for the maglia rosa instead in 2023 and will headline a stacked field alongside Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) in May.

Mathieu van der Poel shocks Adam Blythe with manner of his Milano-San Remo win as he wins first Monument of 2023

Eurosport expert Adam Blythe says he was “shocked” by Mathieu van der Poel’s (Alpecin-Deceuninck) attack that saw him win Milano-San Remo for the first time. Van der Poel was part of a high quality quartet that consisted of himself, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers). Ad It was Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates who did most of the damage to the rest of the peloton, before Van der Poel went for a big attack of his own just before the crest of the Poggio climb and held on to win by 15 seconds from Ganna and Van Aert.