The Slovenian Primoz Roglic, big favorite of the "race to the sun", and the Belgian Wout van Aert let their French teammate win, recruited in the off-season and winner for the first time in his career at the WorldTour level.

"Wout told me a kilometer from the finish that it was for me today," reacted the Varois who promised to return the favor.

"It's a great gift. I didn't expect to wear this yellow jersey at all!".

Frenchman Christophe Laporte, first yellow jersey for Paris-Nice, after his victory in the 1st stage ahead of his teammates, Slovenian Primoz Roglic and Belgian Wout van Aert, on March 6, 2022 in Mantes-la-Ville FRANCK FIFE AFP

"It's incredible to think that we were three of the team for the win," added Laporte, referring to the coup de force of his training some 6 kilometers from the finish, in the coast of Breuil-Bois. -Robert, the last of this opening stage in the Yvelines (159.8 km).

After the Belgian Nathan Van Hooydonck, Laporte forced the pace in this climb of 1200 meters at 6%.

"When I moved away, I saw that there were four of us," said the future winner.

But the Czech Zdenek Stybar, in overdrive, let go and the Jumbo trio, by dint of powerful relays, reached the finish about twenty seconds before the first peloton bringing together almost all of their opponents with the exception of the holder. of the title, the German Maximilian Schachmann, pushed back a little further (36 sec).

Feet on the ground

"It was not planned. If someone had told me this morning, I would not necessarily have believed it", assured Laporte (29 years old) who changed his coat this winter after eight seasons spent at Cofidis.

With, as a result, around twenty successes but none of world level although he came close to consecration in the 2018 Tour (2nd behind Arnaud Démare in the Pau stage).

Christophe Laporte, winner of the first stage of Paris-Nice in front of his teammates from Jumbo, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (d) and the Belgian Wout van Aert, on March 6, 2022 in Mantes-la-Ville FRANCK FIFE AFP

By responding favorably last year to the offer of the Dutch team, which wanted to expand van Aert's entourage for the classics, Laporte admitted to having come out of his comfort zone.

He changed his method, agreed to sacrifice a long stay at altitude.

"I spent three weeks in February away from my family, I'm glad it paid off," he admitted before stepping onto the podium.

If he said he was "fulfilled" by this victory acquired on his second day of racing of the year, the first French leader of Paris-Nice since Arnaud Démare in 2018 kept his feet on the ground for the future: "The The main objective is to have Primoz (Roglic) placed in the general standings, not necessarily to keep the yellow jersey on my shoulders."

Frenchman Christophe Laporte (g), winner of the 1st stage of Paris-Nice, thanks his teammates from Jumbo, Belgian Wout Van Aert and Slovenian Primoz Roglic, on March 6, 2022 in Mantes-la-Ville FRANCK FIFE AFP

On Monday, the second stage heads due south across the Beauce plain to connect Auffargis (Yvelines) to Orléans on a 159.2 kilometer course, flat and exposed to the wind.

© 2022 AFP