The Luxembourger continues the fine form displayed since the start of the season and gets best ever result in three participations at the French race.
Stage 8 of Paris-Nice provided again plenty of drama and action just like in the past years, despite being a short one, of just 110 kilometers in length. Six climbs stood between the peloton who rolled out from the beautiful Nice and the finish of this 77th edition, at which Deceuninck – Quick-Step were again the protagonists, with the likes of Fabio Jakobsen (twice on the podium), Philippe Gilbert (whose daring raid on the queen stage catapulted him to second overall ahead of the final day) and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne winner Bob Jungels.
The latter infiltrated in a mammoth 37-man breakaway that zipped clear on Côte de Levens, eking out a two-minute maximum advantage by the time they crested the second ascent of the day. A speculative attack on Côte de Peille forced the peloton to react, this sudden injection of pace distancing Philippe Gilbert, despite his valiant effort of limiting the losses.
Bob Jungels, who in the meantime had returned to the bunch, climbed with the yellow jersey group – whose strong pace shredded the field on Col de Quatre Chemins (5.5km, 5.5%) – which they topped just ten kilometres from the finish in the center of Nice, and came over the line less than half a minute behind the stage winner, sealing a maiden top 10 finish at Paris-Nice.
“Coming into the race I was expecting a bit more, but I think I can be happy with my overall ride, which gives me confidence going into the next appointments of the season. The race boasted a strong field and we rode it full gas from day one, with the crosswinds and all, so you can’t say there was a dull moment this week. I am content with my shape and with knowing I gave everything, and this eighth place only makes me even more hungry as I continue my spring campaign”, said Bob Jungels after netting Luxembourg’s best GC result in ten years at “The Race to the Sun”.
Photo credit: ©Justin Setterfield/ Getty Images
