Tadej Pogacar cracks Jonas Vingegaard to win Stage 4 thriller at Paris-Nice, takes overall lead

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) won his first serious battle with Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) of 2023 after an uphill tear-up on Stage 4 at Paris-Nice, with the Slovenian moving into the overall lead after a stunning victory.

Although Vingegaard initially kept him on a loose leash, Pogacar soon pulled alongside opportunistic leader David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) and quickly formed an alliance. With the pair at the front working together, the rope snapped. Vingegaard was done.

Pogacar and Gaudu locked horns up the remainder of the climb, which averaged 7.1% gradient, before the two-time Tour champion eventually cracked his French rival to deliver the statement WorldTour win of the season so far. Vingegaard trailed home in sixth, some 43 seconds later.

The 164.7km run from Saint-Amand-Montrond to La Loge des Gardes was spiced up by howling winds, with a seven-strong breakaway eventually getting clear. The remnants of that break – Lilian Calmejane (Intermarche–Circus–Wanty) and Anders Skaarseth (Uno-X) – were swept up with 15km remaining at the final intermediate sprint, with Pogacar snaring another two bonus seconds to add to his six from Stages 1 and 2.

Ineos Grenadiers set the tempo as the race hit the 6.7km final climb, with Vingegaard and Pogacar soon filtering into second and third in the bike train as race leader Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) slipped off the back to signal a change at the top of GC.

Vingegaard was first to attack, punching clear of all but one rider. Sadly for him, that rider was Pogacar and the pair soon dallied, inviting their wounded rivals back into the frame and encouraging Gaudu to launch a surprise attack.

But Pogacar was only getting started and soon set off in pursuit of the Frenchman. His attack initially cracked, and then broke, Vingegaard as he sailed up the road, briefly working with Gaudu before claiming yet another win. On this form, he is going to take some stopping.

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