Primoz Roglic won the Paris-Nice, washing the wound of last year, when he snatched the stage from Gino Mader and the next day the group did not stop to wait for him after the fall, even though he was the leader of the race.
He owes everything or almost everything to Van Aert who he kept his word and put himself at his service when Simon Yates attacked him on the Col d'Eze, trying to make up the 47-second gap. It was a rainy day, a cold climb, and a treacherous descent. Without the Belgian, Roglic would likely have lost the race, falling once again to last year's finale. When the two began their pursuit of Yates, The fugitive's odometer read 43 kilometers per hour, while his pursuers' indicated 57.In some ways today's stage marks a turning point in Primoz's career, who received a benevolent punch in the center of the chest from his teammate at the finish line, drank a Coke and then headed to the podium.
Turini's coup
Primoz Roglic won Paris-Nice and Maximilian Schachman, who in 2021 took the jersey from him and with some embarrassment pocketed the second edition of the race in two years, went home with the flu along with a large part of the group: 59 riders finished Paris-Nice. And above all, he was unable to applaud. the Slovenian rival who yesterday, after the victory in the snow of the Col du Turini, put on a show on the podium.
This time Primoz had his three-year-old son Lev with him. The two performed the telemark move simultaneously, typical of the ski jumping landing that Roglic practiced until the terrible accident in which he got on a bicycle.
«Among all the podiums I've achieved – smiled the Slovenian – this was definitely the best moment ever. Mind you, I want to practice doing this a lot with Lev this year."
In yesterday's stage on the Col du Turini, Roglic consolidated his lead The race took place near Monaco, where the Roglic family lives. Here with his son Lev.
In yesterday's stage on the Col du Turini, Roglic consolidated his lead The race took place near Monaco, where the Roglic family lives. Here with his son Lev.
Growing condition
While Pogacar was winning by a landslide over Carpegna, the success of his compatriot in France, even in the snow, was more difficult. Roglic in fact found on his path an extraordinarily motivated Martinez and Simon Yates. In any case, to stay away from last year's mess at La Colmiane, Primoz went to catch everyone and then attacked.
«It's always nice – he declared later – to see good feelings translated into victory. Even though I knew I had trained hard after retiring, Winning was the confirmation that every rider hopes to find. These are not things you can buy at the market, it was difficult to get into condition with this softer startAnd in today's stage (yesterday for those reading, ed.) it was difficult to stay ahead and control the race for almost 100 kilometers, so there was no room for tactical games."
Damn goodbye
Compared to twelve months ago, Roglic is slightly less fit, as he told us his coach toldWhen he showed up this morning at the start of the final stage, which ended in Nice after climbing the Col d'Eze, the Slovenian had a 47-second lead over Simon Yates and a minute over Daniel Martinez. Despite his relatively comfortable position, but remembering the poor finish to the 2021 race and the Tour crash, Before leaving, Roglic resorted to irony.
"It will mean that I won't think about racing on French roads," he said. "I'll pretend to be in France."
With the help of Wout
The operation worked, with that little bit of a shudder you get when the attacker disappears from your sight, while today's stage demonstrated Yates' return to the level he deserves. Dani Martinez, on the other hand, suffered a setback and crossed the finish line with Quintana and Guillaume Martin, 1'44" behind the winner.
At the foot of the podium, Roglic he met his wife Lora again and picked up Lev again, ready to replicate their victory gesture.
«Yesterday I was happy to have won the stage – said the Slovenian – today I was happy to have won the first stage race in France. I have to A big thank you to the team and especially to Wout Van Aert who has shown that he can really do everythingYates started strong, I was fine, but I suffered and fought to limit the gap. Wout was super strong, he's really great. And I'm really happy."
