Paris-Nice

One of the traditional finishes in cycling, Sisteron welcomed the bunch Thursday afternoon. Dubbed the “Gateway to Provence” and boasting a stunning medieval fortress like something out of a “Lord of the Rings” movie, Sisteron featured at the “Race to the Sun” for the first time in six years, in the meantime having hosted a Tour de France stage at the end of which Julian Alaphilipped dressed the yellow jersey.

The four classified climbs spread on the course didn’t seem to bother the peloton, who did their homework from the beginning, allowing only four riders in the breakaway and making sure their maximum gap remained around the three-minute mark. The quartet were easily overhauled and at the end of the day we had the last bunch sprint of the week, won by Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike).

Remco Evenepoel finished safely in the bunch and retained his fifth place on the general classification, just 30 seconds from the yellow jersey. The Belgian Champion will now turn his attention to the complicated stage six, the longest of the week, which will comprise five classified ascents, including one averaging 10.3%, coming inside the final 30 kilometers, just before the intermediate sprint.

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