The Jumbo Visma fulfilled the label of favorite in the team time trial of Paris-Nice and took the victory with a time of 33m55s, at an average of 56.9 km/hour, on the 32.2 km route with start and finish in Dampierre-en-Burly, while the yellow jersey went to the Danish rider Magnus Cort, whose squad, EF Education, took second place.
The first duel of the general with Vingegaard and Pogacar in the spotlight and with Jumbo and UAE as protagonists, did not bring any disaster. He won the group from the Dane, a machine in the joint effort, but the Slovenian saved the furniture by giving up just 23 seconds to the 2022 Tour winner.
The second place in the time trial went to EF Education, which was only 1 second away from glory, but at least placed the Danish Magnus Cort as the new yellow jersey. Third place was taken by Simon Yates’ Jayco, 4 seconds behind, Groupama 4th, 14 seconds behind, and UAE 23, 5th. Movistar could not get past twelfth place, 50 behind.
Change in the general the eve of the first high end, but the favorites are still in a handkerchief with everything to play for. Magnus Cort is the leader, with the Belgian of the Jumbo Van Hooydonck at 1 second and the Australian Matthews third at 3, the same time as Vingegaard, who is already fifth. Pogacar moves away to tenth place at 14, only 11 behind the Dane and saving the obstacle of the team time trial.
The duel between Jumbo Visma and UAE was presumed, the squads of Vingegaard and Pogacar in a key day in which differences were expected. There was more emotion big damage. Nobody came out shorn, and if there was someone who should have left the time trial happy, it was Pogacar, who also had a small cushion of 12 seconds achieved in the intermediate sprints of the first 2 stages.
The first great reference was marked by Simon Yates’ Jayco with 33.59 minutes, a time to be beaten by the teams of the 2 great favorites. The UAE, who rolled at the end with 3 riders, stopped the clock 19 seconds behind the Australian squad, an improved record for the Emirati team thanks to a solo final sprint by Pogacar that lessened the damage.
The Jumbo Visma remained to arrive, the Vingegaard squad that had equaled the time of the Jayco at the intermediate point (16.53), rolling at the edge of 60 per hour. The Dutch squad broke into the finish line beating the Australians’ record, looking to take the time trial and perhaps win the yellow jersey for Van Hooydonck
The Groupama had slipped into the party against the odds, but was 14 seconds away from the Jumbo men, who arrived with 4 men and their best specialists in front, such as Rohan Dennis, Tobias Foss and Affini.
EF Education also remained to arrive, a squad that sold the defeat dearly. A second separated the Americans from glory, but at least they dressed Magnus Cort (Ronne, 30 years old), winner of 6 stages in the Vuelta and 2 in the Tour, in yellow. A gift that comforted the Nordic cyclist quite a bit.
This Wednesday the fourth stage offers a high end with the 164.7 km route between Saint-Amand-Montrond and La Loge des Gardes. In the last third of the journey there are three climbs, two third-class, the Cota du Vernet (2 km at 5.8) and the Cota de Cheval Rigon (5.8 km at 3.8), and the final one towards the first-class finish line with 6.8 km at 7 percent. It also includes a scoring climb to Col de Beaulouis (8.9 km to 3.1).
