Pogačar climbs GC at Paris-Nice as McNulty & Almeida storm Tirreno-Adriatico TT

Tadej Pogačar once again pounced for the bonus seconds on stage 2 of Paris-Nice, moving up to 2nd overall just +2’’ back on stage winner and new race leader Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo).

The largely flat 164km leg from Bazainville to Fontainebleau took the peloton through exposed roads but, with the exception of the briefest of splits with 75km to go it all came back together for a bunch sprint.

Tomorrow is a team time trial of 32km starting and finishing in Dampierre-en-Burly.

Pogačar: “The team did a really good job today and we stayed out of trouble with the crashes. I’m happy I managed to gain a bit of time and I can be more relaxed going into tomorrow . The important thing will be to focus on ourselves as a team and do the quickest time we can.”

Meanwhile in Italy the riders at Tirreno-Adriatico had to battle wet and miserable conditions with Brandon McNulty and Joao Almeida putting in solid performances to both place in the top-10.

McNulty took 5th place at 34’’ from the time of stage winner Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers) with Almeida in 7th at 41’’.

Tomorrow is the first road stage from Camaiore to Follonica (210km).

McNulty: “I was happy with today. The weather wasn’t ideal but I went well and I’m happy with a top-5 for the first individual TT of the year. The legs felt ok, in the cold they were a little closed up but I think for the rest of the week they’ll be good. We have some long days coming up and some good climbing stages ahead so it’s all good.”

Paris Nice Stage 2 results
1.Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) 3:28:57
2.Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) s.t
3.Magnus Cort (EF Education First) s.t
Paris Nice General Classification

1.Mads Pedersen Trek-Segafredo 7:19:35
2.Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +02’’
3.Tim Merlier Soudal Quick-Step +04’’

Tirreno Adriatico stage 1 results

1.Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers) 12:28
2.Lennard Kemna (Bora-Hansgrohe) +28’’
3.Magnus Sheffield (Ineos-Grenadiers) +31’’
5.Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) +34’’
7.Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +41’’
Tirreno Adriatico General Classification

1.Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers) 12:28
2.Lennard Kemna (Bora-Hansgrohe) +28’’
3.Magnus Sheffield (Ineos-Grenadiers) +31’’
5.Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) +34’’
7.Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +41’’