As it happened: Paris-Nice stage 8 | Cyclingnews

Refresh

2024-03-10T15:20:33.557Z

All smiles for Matteo Jorgenson after winning Paris-Nice (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T14:56:17.859Z

Quite a tremendous stat on Visma-Lease a Bike and their continued domination of the whole calendar. Even with new riders such as Jorgenson, they once again prove their are the best team in the world as the first side ever to win both Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. 

📊👕🇳🇱Team Visma | Lease a Bike will be the first team EVER to win the GC of both 🇮🇹Tirreno-Adriatico and 🇫🇷Paris-Nice in the same season.🏆GC 🇫🇷Paris-Nice 2024: 🇺🇸Jorgenson (+ 2x stage 🇳🇱Kooij)🏆GC 🇮🇹Tirreno-Adriatico 2024: 🇩🇰Vingegaard (+ 2x stage 🇩🇰Vingegaard)March 10, 2024

See more

2024-03-10T14:35:34.921Z

The final GC top 10 at Paris-Nice 2024 with Vlasov moving into the top 5 after another strong day. Plapp fell to sixth but it was still a step up and successful week for him at new team Jayco AlUla. Roglič finished ninth overall after not having his best day or week. USA on top at Paris-Nice.

Final GC top 10 at Paris-Nice 2024 (Image credit: FirstCycling)

2024-03-10T14:32:26.643Z

His trade team kit may be yellow, but nothing will feel as good as putting on the Paris-Nice leader’s and winner’s maillot jaune. Here’s Matteo Jorgenson’s crowning moment, resplendent in yellow in Nice. 

Matteo Jorgenson wins the yellow jersey at Paris-Nice (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T14:30:11.593Z

Here’s what Paris-Nice overall winner Jorgenson had to say after the stage:

“To be honest, no, never. Until this year I never would’ve believed this was possible but here we are,” Jorgenson said.

“It couldn’t have gone any better today and the whole week. It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I could barely sleep last night, to be honest with you, I was so nervous and I felt for the first time in my life pressure.

“To have it come together like that and to ride in with such a champion like Remco, it was just a really special moment.”

Jorgenson said the finish was right by his house a local to Nice, with knowledge of home roads helping him to assign key points where he could tell his domestiques to position him. 

2024-03-10T14:25:07.682Z

All smiles for the two Americans who starred at this weeks Paris-Nice. They bookend the podium as cyclists from the USA continue to show themselves at the biggest races once again. 

Brandon McNulty and Matteo Jorgenson after stage 8 of Paris-Nice (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T14:23:10.511Z

Here’s some reaction from stage winner Remco Evenepoel:

Asked if he was disapointed to not win overall, Evenepoel said: “No, I mean if you see only one guy could follow, Matteo, then I think he deserves to win. I went three times all in on Côte de Peille and he was the only one to follow. Vlasov jumped across but i think he spent quite some energy up there with that move so i think that matteo is the deserved winner of this race. I think I should be more than happy with the ending of this beautiful week.”

“I think what I showed was the plan. We wanted to pace ourselves on the Côte de Peille but the bunch split completely with a nasty crash at the start of the descent and I think Trek smashed it down.”

“I was always in good position so I have to say that i did very well in that aspect this week. Then when I saw we were only 10, 12 guys left I just told myself ‘I’m gonna try a few times all out attacks and just see what happens’ I think i put a lot of fatigue in the legs of everybody with that and to be honest, on the top of Peille I was suffering myself as well after the last attack. But that’s how you win a race by suffering and just going all in.”

He did say there was room for improvement with altitude camps to come before he attempts to again smash the Ardennes Classics as his next big goal for the season. 

2024-03-10T14:15:41.267Z

Alongside the stage win, Evenepoel also moved into the lead of both the King of the Mountains classification and green points jersey classification. Not a bad haul from his debut at Paris-Nice with a debut at the Tour de France in summer still to come for the young Belgian star. 

2024-03-10T14:07:22.798Z

Here’s the moment Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) took victory on stage 8, with Jorgenson’s crowning moment captured in the background. 

Remco Evenepoel wins stage 8 of Paris-Nice (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T14:03:12.714Z

McNulty arrives at the line defeated, but ever the sportsman he goes straight to his compatriot to congratulate him. It’s still not the WorldTour stage race win he would have wanted but its nonetheless a great performance and he still finishes on the overall podium in third. 

2024-03-10T14:01:09.959Z

It’s the sign of a huge step up for the 24-year-old who moved to Visma-Lease a Bike from Movistar for 2024, with big ambitions in the Classics and as a GC rider. He’s achieved both already in just his first few races with the team, part of the squad that dominated opening weekend and now winning Paris-Nice on his own – one of the most important one-week stages on the WorldTour calendar. 

2024-03-10T13:59:38.077Z

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) wins Paris-Nice 2024 as Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) wins stage 8!

2024-03-10T13:59:00.690Z

It looks as though Jorgenson is happy to lead it out and allow Evenepoel to take the stage win – which he likely would have anyway as the more explosive rider. The Belgian champ hits the front with a big sprint uncontested by the American behind who takes the overall. 

2024-03-10T13:57:40.829Z

1KM TO GOJorgenson is riding on the front for now with Evenepoel on his wheel eyeing a stage victory. They are met by the fans as they head towards the line. 

2024-03-10T13:57:04.412Z

Here’s a last look at the leading duo as they head into the final 2 kilometres. 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T13:54:33.234Z

They are chatting quite a lot in the run to the line on the Promenade des Anglais with Jorgenson letting a smile go as he perhaps realises just what he has done here by winning Paris-Nice overall. 

2024-03-10T13:53:23.133Z

5KM TO GOJorgenson signals to Evenepoel in the final run downhill. It’s wrapped up for the Visma-Lease a Bike man now in just his first stage race appearance for the team. Unsure of how this finale will play out but it may be one man allowed to take the stage win as the other takes overall victory. 

2024-03-10T13:49:58.090Z

Over the top and it’s still all together for these two in front. Evenepoel continues to pull on the downhill section back to Nice. It will be a quick dash for the line with a two-up sprint looking likely between these two.

2024-03-10T13:47:25.513Z

Jorgenson has actually moved alongside and now in front of Evenepoel with 650 metres left of the climb. There hasn’t been any attack yet from the Belgian, perhaps it’s just the stage win he thinks he can get with Jorgenson looking every bit his equal uphill. 

2024-03-10T13:44:06.646Z

With only 1.4km of uphill roads left to tackle at Paris-Nice 2024, Vlasov has run out of steam and drops from the other two leaders. Jorgenson looks rock solid on Evenepoel’s wheel for now. 

2024-03-10T13:43:17.194Z

Evenepoel is winding it up on the front and Vlasov is on a small gap but fighting to stay in. This isn’t the attack yet but he is surely going to try. 

2024-03-10T13:42:39.231Z

10KM TO GOContact has been made behind for the Bernal group, joining McNulty and Skjelmose.

2024-03-10T13:42:03.893Z

Jorgenson has curiously now taken over as we approach the most difficult gradients with a couple of kilometres that only feature double-digit gradients. Will Evenepoel explode into life and try to distance the white jersey?

2024-03-10T13:40:52.078Z

Evenepoel is leading on the front of the trio with Jorgenson locked in. The Visma-Lease a Bike man knows he just has to follow and he will win if he stays in contact with the young Belgian. 

2024-03-10T13:39:56.981Z

With the gap to McNulty’s group now at 1:51, Vlasov is getting closer to reaching the podium as he started the day 2:05 behind the American. 

2024-03-10T13:38:09.386Z

We’ve actually reached Nice already but this climb takes the riders back out of the city for one more stinging hit to the legs, before descending to the Promenade des Anglais.

2024-03-10T13:36:48.505Z

15KM TO GOHere’s a look at the gradients which await the three leaders. It is by no means an easy finish after a flag to flag day of exciting racing again at Paris-Nice. 

(Image credit: ASO)

2024-03-10T13:32:51.607Z

Jorgenson will know these roads well as he lives in the area, as does Vlasov. He’ll want to stick with Evenepoel knowing that if he is with the Belgian champion at the line, he will win Paris-Nice. 

2024-03-10T13:31:46.315Z

Here’s the leading trio that will battle it out for the stage win. Just one climb and a descent back to Nice separates them from the finish. Will Evenepoel try and drop Jorgenson over the Col des Quatre-Chemins (3.8 km at 8.1%) to try and take both the stage win and overall victory? Or will he bide his time to try and just secure the stage victory? They can’t count out yesterday’s stage winner Vlasov either. 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T13:29:36.580Z

20KM TO GOJorgenson looks an excellent descender, really pushing on gapping Evenepoel on this downhill run towards our final climb. 

2024-03-10T13:28:35.182Z

Now Roglič really has started to struggle, dropping away from the second group on the road.

2024-03-10T13:25:09.306Z

Jorgenson moves ahead of Evenepoel and takes the maximum bonus seconds haul. He’s defending from the front after Evenepoel led up the majority of the climb. 

2024-03-10T13:20:43.423Z

Its the shorter steeper side of the famous Col d’Èze we’re tackling here. Could it be the perfect launchpad for Jorgenson or Evenepoel to make their decisive move?

2024-03-10T13:18:53.084Z

McNulty has taken off in a desperate attempt to try and salvage something from today. The gap is at 1:07 as Plapp moves ahead. There’s nothing doing in this chase group with the damage clearly done on the Côte de Peille.

2024-03-10T13:16:38.526Z

30KM TO GOThe sun is finally showing itself now as the race heads back towards the coast. The leading trio’s gap has completely ballooned out to 57 seconds now. Rain jackets off in the front and it’s time to push on. 

2024-03-10T13:13:53.926Z

It was actually wanting a gilet that saw Roglic drop back, not a struggle. This group behind isn’t working well and the three in front now have a 40-second lead. 

2024-03-10T13:12:40.842Z

Roglic appears to be struggling at the back of the chasing group. This typically hasn’t been a stage suited to the Slovenian and the horrific weather conditions also aren’t playing to his strengths. 

2024-03-10T13:09:55.947Z

Evenepoel is doing a lot of work on the pedalling portions of this descent, with Jorgenson sat on his wheel and Vlasov able to just sit in at the back – he’s set to gain big if this group stays away. Gap to the Skjelmose, McNulty and Roglic group is currently at 20 seconds.

2024-03-10T13:05:26.511Z

40KM TO GOEvenepoel, Jorgenson and Vlasov crest the climb with the Russian in the lead. They will now descend for 12km before battling out for bonus seconds at the Col d’Èze intermediate sprint point. 

2024-03-10T13:03:24.429Z

Here’s the moment Evenepoel and Jorgenson got away from McNulty. They’ve now got Vlasov for company who can be seen just behind the yellow jersey. 

Evenepoel and Jorgenson on stage 8 of Paris-Nice (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T13:01:48.660Z

Vlasov leaves McNulty behind to join Jorgenson and Evenepoel. It’s not looking good for the yellow jersey after missing out, remember started the day with just a four-second lead from Jorgenson who on the road would virtually be in the jersey. 

2024-03-10T12:59:45.412Z

Jorgenson is pulling through and giving Evenepoel a pull on the front with McNulty not in contact. He’s with Vlasov trying to close the gap and just grinding away. 

2024-03-10T12:58:15.322Z

Round three from Evenepoel who attacks again. Jorgenson is again straight onto his wheel with McNulty not in contact yet but looking good to close. Skjelmose has started to struggle this time. 

2024-03-10T12:57:27.215Z

We’re getting a look at Egan Bernal who is in a group 40 seconds back with Joao Almeida. 

2024-03-10T12:56:37.242Z

Here’s an earlier shot of Evenepoel just behind McNulty. He’ll be wanting to take that yellow jersey off him by the end of today. He’s since removed the gilet and arm warmers, ready for the attacks in his Belgian national champion’s jersey. 

Remco Evenepoel on stage 8 of Paris-Nice (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T12:53:08.939Z

45KM TO GOWith Evenepoel not getting any separation, things have calmed down for now. Großschartner has moved to the front for race leader McNulty. 

2024-03-10T12:50:41.138Z

Evenepoel attacks again! This is brutal. Skjelmose is trying to follow as are Jorgenson and McNulty who both closed well. 

2024-03-10T12:50:08.875Z

He’s followed quickly by Jorgenson who snapped onto his wheel and he’s now knocked off his effort. Luke Plapp looked the worst effected by that tough acceleration but he is now back in thanks to help from Chris Harper. The Jayco AlUla domestique has now gone to the front of the group. 

2024-03-10T12:49:09.272Z

Just as I type, Evenepoel goes! He isn’t letting any attacks get ahead of him today and with 46.6km still remaning, he’s decided now is a good time to go. 

2024-03-10T12:48:12.041Z

Campenaerts is all but caught, chapeau to him. We’re starting the brutally tough Côte de Peille (6.5 km at 6.9%) climb with a very small group of leaders remaining. How long can Pedersen keep pulling on the front?

2024-03-10T12:46:40.874Z

50KM TO GOMads Pedersen hit the front of the peloton with 63km to go and he’s barely took his foot off the accelerator ever since. Incredible effort from the versatile Dane with Lidl-Trek clearly coming into today to light the race up. 

Mads Pedersen at Paris-Nice stage 8 (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T12:40:35.204Z

Pedersen is bombing down this descent with speeds past 80kph even in wet conditions. The group of leaders is heading through the lovely looking L’Escarène. The Dane has reduced Campenaerts’ lead to just 12 seconds. 

2024-03-10T12:36:13.367Z

Campenaerts leads the race over the third categorised climb of the day. Scaroni took second for three more KOM points which moves him just two behind Burgaudeau now. Pedersen has moved back to the front to lead Skjelmose down the descent with the hardest two climbs on the day still to come. 

Victor Campenaerts at stage 8 of Paris-Nice (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T12:33:27.226Z

Scaroni and Battistella are again looking active with around 500m to the top of this climb with more KOM points on offer. Pedersen is still in the group after a long pull.

2024-03-10T12:31:07.329Z

60KM TO GOEgan Bernal (Ineos) and Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon) are the big losers on GC having missed out on this group of favourites being driven by Pedersen. They started the day seventh and ninth overall respectively. 

2024-03-10T12:26:08.989Z

KOM leader Burgaedeau has been dropped and his challenge for that classification will be down to those in front and what they can do. Scaroni will be eyeing a few more points on the road with the jersey within striking distance. 

2024-03-10T12:24:24.211Z

Evenepoel looks isolated in the front group. He’s got three teammates definitely behind in the third group on the road as Pedersen continues driving for Skjelmose. 

2024-03-10T12:21:22.916Z

The group of GC favourites have no caught the second group on the road which had Mads Pedersen in it from his earlier move. Pedersen has gone to the front and started to pace for Skjelmose already. 

2024-03-10T12:20:13.255Z

There are splits behind in the peloton with a lot of key domestiques separated from their leaders. There could be a lot of people isolated as we go climbing again up the Côte de Berre-les-Alpes (6.5 km at 5.9%), which has steepest sections in its final 2km. 

2024-03-10T12:19:13.420Z

Santiago Buitrago and Kevin Geniets have abandoned Paris-Nice. 

2024-03-10T12:18:49.988Z

Campenaerts is still moving along nicely on his own out in front, with his time gap currently at 1:05 from the GC favourites. 

2024-03-10T12:17:13.175Z

Scaroni took three more points over the last climb meaning Burgaudeau only leads by five in the KOM classification now. 

2024-03-10T12:15:05.558Z

Lidl-Trek are already looking very active and leading the peloton down one of the treacherous descent sections. Rain has made the hairpin downhills even more dangerous and technical than they already were. 

2024-03-10T12:13:05.991Z

Buitrago looks like he won’t be continuing this race after being on superb form on the climbs and taking a stage win, but more importantly he is thankfully back on his feet after a heavy crash. 

2024-03-10T12:12:27.059Z

70KM TO GOThere’s been a nasty crash for Santiago Buitrago on one of the descending sections. He looked to be in quite some distress but thankfully team staff and now on hand to attend to him. Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos) and Kevin Geniets (Groupama-FDJ) were also involved.

2024-03-10T12:10:43.190Z

Mads Pedersen is leading a group behind the huge pack of chasers in pursuit of Campenaerts. He could be an important satellite rider should Skjelmose want to try something later. 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T12:08:02.865Z

The groups on the road behind have joined forming a much bigger chase. Armirail, De Plus, Scaroni, Battistella and Jacobs have now got Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ), Ion Izagirre (Cofidis), Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Ewan Costiou (Arkea-B&B Hotels), Harry Sweeny (EF Education-EasyPost), Ruben Guerreiro and Will Barta (both Movistar) for company. 

2024-03-10T12:03:13.827Z

The lone leader on stage 8 of Paris-Nice.

Victor Campenaerts leading stage 8 of Paris-Nice 2024 (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T12:01:49.044Z

Those in the breakaway are on the lower slopes of the Côte de Châteauneuf (5.5 km at 4.5%) climb. 

2024-03-10T11:56:26.486Z

80KM TO GOCurrent race situation sees Campenaerts leading solo 55 seconds ahead of the first chase group of five, with a further chasing group just five seconds behind them. Then comes the peloton at 1:30 from the lone Belgian out in front. 

2024-03-10T11:52:52.493Z

Double stage-winner Olav kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) has abandoned the race. 

2024-03-10T11:51:43.823Z

The Astana duo were joined later by Laurens De Plus (Ineos Grenadiers) and Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) bridging across. There are groups forming all over the road as they now descend towards the second climb. 

2024-03-10T11:48:49.105Z

That’s the first of five climbs on the day done, with many more opportunities for attacks to be launched. 

2024-03-10T11:48:09.635Z

Scaroni didn’t managed to get the maximum five KOM points which were swept up by the Belgian in front, but he did get two and narrowed the gap to current leader in that classification – Mathieu Burgaudeau – to just eight points now. 

2024-03-10T11:47:18.433Z

Campenaerts is now all alone with Jacobs dropped. Behind, a tandem attack has come out of the peloton with Christian Scaroni and Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan) off in pursuit of the KOM points.

2024-03-10T11:39:38.342Z

90KM TO GOPithie in back in the group, with the peloton keeping the pace high and only allowing the duo in front a 1:35 lead. 

2024-03-10T11:36:42.140Z

Campenaerts is looking as aero as ever on the attack. 

Victor Campenaerts leading the break at Paris-Nice (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T11:35:02.633Z

Pithie has been dropped by his fellow escapees on the climb. Only Campenaerts and Jacobs remain out in the lead.

2024-03-10T11:30:34.292Z

Jacobs, Campenaerts and Pithie now have closer to a two-minute gap as they hit the first climb of the day – Côte de Levens (6.1 km at 5.8%).

2024-03-10T11:25:22.915Z

100KM TO GOHere’s the moment the three leaders got away from the peloton. They currently lead by 1:10.

Paris-Nice 2024 stage 8 breakaway (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T11:19:30.732Z

The first wave of attacks in the peloton has seen a group of three riders get a small advantage. Johan Jacobs (Movistar) who was in yesterday’s break alongside Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) and former race leader at this year’s Paris-Nice, Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ). 

2024-03-10T11:15:51.043Z

Here’s what McNulty had to say ahead of the stage start to CyclingProNet.

“A mix of everything – excitement, nervous tired but in the end it’s going to be an aggressive day so we’ll give everything.”

“It’s been a really tough week. I think everyone is suffering I hope but we’ll see. It will be really aggressive, especially the last two climbs.”

“I know he’s really motivated and he lives here so it’s almost a home race for him. Remco is also right there and we know how he races so it’s going to be tough.”

2024-03-10T11:12:03.682Z

The peloton will head north out of Nice along the Var river, before turning right at La Roquette-sur-Var and approaching the toughest inclines of the day. From then on in, there will barely be a flat kilometre with climbs lining the road until the descent for home where the Promenade des Anglais in Nice awaits its newest champion. 

2024-03-10T11:09:17.415Z

109KM TO GOOfficial start taken and just 109km of racing separates the riders from the end of Paris-Nice 2024. The race is far from over yet though. 

2024-03-10T11:07:28.497Z

Here’s how the GC standings were left after stage 7 courtesy of FirstCycling.

Just four seconds separates McNulty and Jorgenson at the top, with Skjelmose, Evenepoel and Plapp all fighting for that podium spot. The parcours could allow for someone lower down to start a real raid if they can get up the road with teammates, so expect everyone in this top 10 to be trying something today. 

Paris-Nice GC top 10 after stage 7 (Image credit: FirstCycling)

2024-03-10T10:58:47.516Z

Here’s McNulty looking focused on the day ahead at the race start. 

Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) ahead of Paris-Nice stage 8 (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T10:54:59.705Z

Three more riders didn’t take the start today in Nice: David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Elmar Reinders and Luka Mezgec (Jayco AlUla).

Tombé mercredi sur l’étape du Mont Brouilly et ressentant depuis des douleurs persistantes, David Gaudu ne prendra pas le départ de la 8e et dernière étape de Paris-Nice. Il va observer quelques jours de repos et réaliser des investigations complémentaires.David Gaudu will not… pic.twitter.com/UE2ycUHJFhMarch 10, 2024

See more

2024-03-10T10:50:01.910Z

Unofficial race startThe riders are underway from Nice, with the flag drop and official racing start to take place in around 15 minutes.

2024-03-10T10:48:43.558Z

Today is poised for a huge GC fight in the mountains, with five categorised climbs:

– Côte de Levens (6.1 km at 5.8%) – 94km to go

– Côte de Châteauneuf (5.5 km at 4.5%) – 77km to go

– Côte de Berre-les-Alpes (6.5 km at 5.9%) – 65km to go

– Côte de Peille (6.5 km at 6.9%) – 47km to go

– Col des Quatre-Chemins (3.8 km at 8.1%) – 13km to go

Above is where they start on the course so look out for these markers, and they will also take in part of the famous Col d’Èze where the intermediate sprint point and bonus seconds will be fought for. 

2024-03-10T10:41:15.252Z

Here’s Remco Evenepoel ahead of the stage start. He’ll surely be on the attack throughout the day. 

Remco Evenepoel ahead of Paris-Nice stage 8 (Image credit: Getty Images)

2024-03-10T10:35:05.860Z

Riders are in Nice and completing the team presentation ahead of the neutralised roll out which is around 10 minutes away now. The weather has been tough with rain and cold bringing poor conditions, but the sun is poking through for the moment.

2024-03-10T04:12:20.997Z

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews’ final day of live coverage of Paris-Nice for stage 8!