Vingegaard Secures Paris-Nice Victory Despite Final Stage Defeat
In a dramatic conclusion to the prestigious Paris-Nice race, Jonas Vingegaard claimed his first overall title, though he was denied a final-stage win by French rider Lenny Martinez in a nail-biting sprint finish. The two-time Tour de France champion demonstrated his formidable form, sealing the crown with a commanding margin of victory.
Thrilling Finale in Nice
The eighth and final stage, a challenging 145km route starting and finishing in Nice, saw Vingegaard and Martinez break away on the last climb after the peloton caught the day's breakaway riders. Vingegaard attacked aggressively 21km from the finish, with only Martinez able to match his pace. The Dane crested the final climb, the Côte du Linguador, first, securing the king of the mountains competition alongside his overall win.
However, in the sprint to the line, Martinez launched his bid early, and Vingegaard could not overtake him, settling for second on the stage. "Today was almost the perfect day," Vingegaard remarked. "Of course I would have loved to win the stage as well, but Lenny was very strong, so he deserves to win."
Historic Winning Margin
Vingegaard's overall victory margin of 4 minutes and 23 seconds is reported by race organizers as the largest since 1939, underscoring his dominance in the eight-day event. With three wins from his first eight racing days this season, Vingegaard is in peak condition as he eyes a potential Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double later in the year.
This triumph adds to his impressive palmarès, which includes two Tour de France titles (2022 and 2023), the 2025 Vuelta a España, and major one-week stage races like the Critérium du Dauphiné (2023) and Tirreno-Adriatico (2024).
Stage and Overall Standings
Colombian rider Harold Tejada, winner of Friday's sixth stage, took third place on the final day, finishing seven seconds behind Martinez. Fellow Colombian Dani Martínez, despite crashing over 50km from the finish and battling through pain, limited his losses to preserve second place overall, more than four minutes behind Vingegaard.
German cyclist Georg Steinhauser secured the final podium spot, six minutes off the pace, holding off French competitor Kévin Vauquelin.
Del Toro Triumphs at Tirreno-Adriatico
In parallel cycling news, Isaac del Toro of UAE Team Emirates clinched victory at Tirreno-Adriatico, marking his second stage-race win of the season. The 22-year-old effectively secured his overall triumph after Saturday's penultimate stage, finishing 42 seconds ahead of Giulio Pellizzari.
Despite being caught in a late crash during the final stage in San Benedetto del Tronto, Del Toro rolled over the line safely with the peloton to confirm his win. He finished the race 40 seconds ahead of American rider Matteo Jorgenson, with Pellizzari dropping to third after the final day.
Impressive Performance in Tough Conditions
Del Toro's victory was highlighted by his capture of the points and youth jerseys, showcasing his talent over a demanding week in central Italy. The race featured wet conditions and two grueling mountain stages on Friday and Saturday, testing riders' endurance and skill.
The final stage, a 142km route, saw Mathieu van der Poel lead a breakaway that forced a rapid pace, though Jonas Abrahamsen's late solo attempt was reeled in with 400m remaining. This set the stage for Jonathan Milan to power through and win the final stage of his home race for the third consecutive year, edging out Australian Sam Welsford in a close sprint.
Milan's win is his sixth of the season, adding to points jerseys at the UAE Tour and AlUla Tour, signaling a brilliant start to his campaign.
