Axel May 10:54 a.m., March 07, 2023
Paris-Nice, the first major cycling event of the season in France, takes place all week and for the first time, Dane Jonas Vingegaard, winner of the Tour this summer, is taking part in the "race to the sun".
His dolphin on the Grande Boucle, the Slovenian Tadej Pocagar is also discovering Paris-Nice.
At each stage start, it's the same scenario.
The announcer for this 81st Paris-Nice (March 5 to 12) announces with force and conviction the presence of the winner of the last Tour de France: "He is the outgoing winner of the biggest cycling competition in the world. He is in front of you. is Jonas Vingegaard".
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If the applause of the public is less provided, because less numerous than on the roads of the Tour, the enthusiasm is there.
Eric came as a neighbor to watch the start of a stage.
He saw the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, but also the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, dolphin of the runner of the Jumbo-Vismacet was.
"It's a foretaste, believes Eric. He's going to get away with it with Pogacar. They're still watching each other. They're really preparing for the Tour de France, I think".
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And it's not just the public who benefit from the presence of the Dane and the Slovenian.
Kévin Vauquelin, a young French professional with the Arkéa-Samsic team, finds it hard to realize that he is taking part in the same race as these already confirmed champions.
"To see them there, next to us, when we saw them on TV, it's impressive at the time. But when you start to press the pedals, you don't have to be too impressed not to lose his means".
Roll on Sunday to find out if the “Vingegaard vs Pogacar” duel was as intense on the roads of Paris-Nice as during the Tour de France.