Bernal wins Paris-Nice

Egan Bernal (Team Sky) secured overall victory at Paris-Nice after a tense final stage which saw his yellow jersey come under attack by Nairo Quintana (Movistar). 

Ion Izagirre (Astana) took the stage win in Nice, attacking on the final climb of the day to leave behind the remains of the elite break group led by Quintana. The Spaniard quickly built a stage-winning gap, staying upright on the descent to secure the win, 19 seconds ahead of Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale) and Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb).

Quintana, meanwhile, attacked 50km out, echoing similar moves against Team Sky by Alberto Contador in 2016 and 2017. But like the legendary Spaniard, Quintana would fall short. He was the virtual leader at several points, but ended up only taking four seconds on Bernal at the finish.

The Movistar man attacked on the Côte de Peille to link up with the remnants of a strong breakaway group, including three teammates. Despite their best efforts, he was alone for the final 30 kilometres, while Bernal enjoyed the work of several teammates further back.

In the end, his efforts weren’t enough to overhaul his fellow Colombian at the top of the overall classification, but the battle ended up as the latest in a long line of dramatic final stages at Paris-Nice.

For Bernal, it’s his second WorldTour stage race win after the Tour of California last year. It’s the first win of the season for the 22-year-old, who is set to be a team leader at the Giro d’Italia.

“I can’t believe that I just won Paris-Nice. It’s incredible for me. I’m really happy. I just can’t believe it yet," Bernal told the Team Sky website after the race. “When some GC riders started to attack I knew I could follow them, but also I know that I have a really good, strong team, and my team can control these races.

“So it wasn’t too difficult to be calm because I really believe in my team. They did a really, really good job. We knew it was the last day so they pulled really hard.

“Nairo was really strong but I had a really good team - Kwiatkowski, Sosa, Tao [Geoghegan Hart]. When Quintana attacked I thought if I followed then after I may be alone. I preferred to wait a little bit, stay calm."

How it happened

Once again, a very large break got away early on, and for another day Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) was out there looking to hoover up some mountain classification points in order to seal the polka-dot jersey.

Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) was the main GC threat in the group, lying eighth 2:52 down on Bernal. Stage 7 winner Daniel Martínez was also there, while other notable names in the break included Bob Jungels (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Lilian Calmejane (Direct Énergie)
Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott), Héctor Carretero, Marc Soler, Winner Anacona (all Movistar), Izagirre, Luis León Sánchez, Miguel Ángel Lopez (all Astana), Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida) and Martínez’s EF Education First teammate Tejay van Garderen.

The break swelled over the first two climbs of the day, up to a total of 37 men. Meanwhile, De Gendt added another 12 points to his total on the Côtes de Levens and Chateauneuf.

Trentin was out front on the second climb and was soon joined by van Garderen, who himself was the lone leader as the short 110km stage reached the final 50 kilometres. It was at that point that the action really started as Quintana went on the attack on the Côte de Peille.

The Colombian lay 46 seconds down on race leader Bernal at the start of the day, so a long-range attack over the final three climbs of the stage was pretty much a necessity if he was to have any hope of overhauling his compatriot.

Quintana linked up with his Movistar teammates and was swiftly in the virtual race lead as they caught van Garderen. A minute down the road, Sky were put to work in aid of Bernal. They would have 40km to salvage the race.

Over the top of the Peille, the lead group was an elite collection of riders, including the Astana trio, the EF duo, Yates, Pozzovivo, Naesen, Kelderman and Felix Großschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe). Quintana only had Soler for company, while 50 seconds back, Bernal had five Sky men at his disposal.

What ensued was a mini team time trial, though Quintana was forced to work at the front alone for the final 30km, with little co-operation from his companions. The gap swung from 35-55 seconds during this time, with yet another nail-biting Paris-Nice finish looking to be on the cards.

The final climb of the Col de Quatre Chemins saw Izagirre go on the attack, leaving van Garderen behind and going it alone in search of the stage victory. Despite an attempt from Yates towards the top of the climb, nobody came close to the Spaniard, who had the win in hand so long as he stayed upright on the descent.

Further back, the work from Team Sky saw Bernal close in on Quintana enough so that, on the descent into Nice, the destination of the yellow jersey was more or less set.

Bernal and teammate Michał Kwiatkowski were part of a small group that crossed the line just four seconds behind Quintana, confirming the makeup of the final podium and another Team Sky victory at Paris-Nice – their sixth in eight years.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team2:41:10
2Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:18
3Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team SunwebRow 2 - Cell 2
4Daniel Martinez (Col) EF Education FirstRow 3 - Cell 2
5Felix Großschartner (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 4 - Cell 2
6Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 5 - Cell 2
7Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott0:00:20
9Tejay Van Garderen (USA) EF Education FirstRow 8 - Cell 2
10Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team0:00:22
11Bob Jungels (Lux) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:00:26
12Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 11 - Cell 2
13Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 12 - Cell 2
14George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 13 - Cell 2
15Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 14 - Cell 2
16Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-ScottRow 15 - Cell 2
17Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team SkyRow 16 - Cell 2
18Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-MeridaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Egan Bernal (Col) Team SkyRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Direct Energie0:01:17
21Elie Gesbert (Fra) Arkéa Samsic0:01:23
22Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin0:01:41
23Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) CCC Team0:01:43
24Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Team Sky0:01:45
25Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Direct Energie0:01:55
26Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:01:57
27Ivan Sosa (Col) Team Sky0:02:41
28Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:04:05
29Amaro Antunes (Por) CCC TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-SegafredoRow 29 - Cell 2
31Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Mitchelton-ScottRow 30 - Cell 2
32Julien El Fares (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:04:40
33Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo0:06:00
34Quentin Pacher (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 33 - Cell 2
35Mauro Finetto (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 34 - Cell 2
36Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 35 - Cell 2
37Cyril Gautier (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 36 - Cell 2
38Hugo Houle (Can) Astana Pro TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-ScottRow 38 - Cell 2
40Ivan Garcia (Spa) Bahrain-MeridaRow 39 - Cell 2
41Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 40 - Cell 2
42Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 41 - Cell 2
43Victor De La Parte (Spa) CCC TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Amael Moinard (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 43 - Cell 2
45Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe0:07:32
46Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott0:08:38
47Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Winner Anacona (Col) Movistar TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Hector Carretero (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Laurens ten Dam (Ned) CCC Team0:09:15
51Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Olivier Le Gac (Fra) Groupama-FDJ0:10:30
53Sergio Henao (Col) UAE Team EmiratesRow 52 - Cell 2
54Sebastian Henao (Col) Team SkyRow 53 - Cell 2
55Jhonatan Manuel Narvaez Prado (Ecu) Team SkyRow 54 - Cell 2
56Alessandro Fedeli (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:11:01
57Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin0:12:02
58Niccolò Bonifazio (Ita) Direct EnergieRow 57 - Cell 2
59Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 58 - Cell 2
60Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 59 - Cell 2
61Romain Combaud (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 60 - Cell 2
62Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 61 - Cell 2
63Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Groupama-FDJRow 62 - Cell 2
64Laurent Pichon (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 63 - Cell 2
65Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Bahrain-MeridaRow 64 - Cell 2
66Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Bora-HansgroheRow 65 - Cell 2
67Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha-AlpecinRow 66 - Cell 2
68Jesper Hansen (Den) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 67 - Cell 2
69Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 68 - Cell 2
70Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Tom Scully (NZl) EF Education FirstRow 70 - Cell 2
72Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Trek-SegafredoRow 71 - Cell 2
73Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:14:12
74Magnus Cort (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Casper Pedersen (Den) Team Sunweb0:14:46
76Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale0:16:40
77Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha-AlpecinRow 76 - Cell 2
78Koen de Kort (Ned) Trek-SegafredoRow 77 - Cell 2
79John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-SegafredoRow 78 - Cell 2
80Bert-Jan Lindeman (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 79 - Cell 2
81Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 80 - Cell 2
82Iljo Keisse (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 81 - Cell 2
83Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 83 - Cell 2
85Tim Declercq (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 84 - Cell 2
86Julien Vermote (Bel) Dimension DataRow 85 - Cell 2
87Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Groupama-FDJRow 86 - Cell 2
88Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Katusha-AlpecinRow 87 - Cell 2
89Pascal Eenkhoorn (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 88 - Cell 2
90Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 89 - Cell 2
91Alex Kirsch (Lux) Trek-SegafredoRow 90 - Cell 2
92Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 91 - Cell 2
93Amund Grøndahl Jansen (Nor) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 92 - Cell 2
94Eduard-Michael Grosu (Rom) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 93 - Cell 2
95Mitchell Docker (Aus) EF Education FirstRow 94 - Cell 2
96Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 95 - Cell 2
97Patrick Müller (Swi) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 96 - Cell 2
98Will Barta (USA) CCC TeamRow 97 - Cell 2
99Marco Marcato (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 98 - Cell 2
100Nikolas Maes (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 99 - Cell 2
101Scott Davies (GBr) Dimension DataRow 100 - Cell 2
102Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Dimension DataRow 101 - Cell 2
103Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto SoudalRow 102 - Cell 2
104Evaldas Siskevicius (Ltu) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 103 - Cell 2
105Anthony Turgis (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 104 - Cell 2
106Bryan Coquard (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 105 - Cell 2
107Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 106 - Cell 2
108Kristijan Koren (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 107 - Cell 2
109Mathias Le Turnier (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 108 - Cell 2
110Luke Rowe (GBr) Team SkyRow 109 - Cell 2
111Rory Sutherland (Aus) UAE Team EmiratesRow 110 - Cell 2
112Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Movistar TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
113André Greipel (Ger) Arkéa SamsicRow 112 - Cell 2
114Niki Terpstra (Ned) Direct EnergieRow 113 - Cell 2
115Jan Bakelants (Bel) Team SunwebRow 114 - Cell 2
116Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 115 - Cell 2
117Jack Bauer (NZl) Mitchelton-Scott0:18:39
118Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Groupama-FDJ0:21:58
DNFLuka Mezgec (Slo) Mitchelton-ScottRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFRoger Kluge (Ger) Lotto SoudalRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFJean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) Bora-HansgroheRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFChristoph Pfingsten (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 122 - Cell 2
DNSTony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 123 - Cell 2
DNSAlexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFFlorian Senechal (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFMaarten Wynants (Bel) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 126 - Cell 2
DNSDaniel McLay (GBr) EF Education FirstRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Curvers (Ned) Team SunwebRow 128 - Cell 2
DNSChristophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFDamien Gaudin (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Reza (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFRamunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 132 - Cell 2
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Sprint 1 - Levens - 24 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida3pts
2Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Tejay Van Garderen (USA) EF Education First1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 2 - La Turbie - 78.5 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team3pts
2Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 3 - Nice - 110 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team15pts
2Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale12Row 1 - Cell 3
3Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb9Row 2 - Cell 3
4Daniel Martinez (Col) EF Education First7Row 3 - Cell 3
5Felix Großschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe6Row 4 - Cell 3
6Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Bahrain-Merida5Row 5 - Cell 3
7Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team4Row 6 - Cell 3
8Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott3Row 7 - Cell 3
9Tejay Van Garderen (USA) EF Education First2Row 8 - Cell 3
10Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team1Row 9 - Cell 3
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KOM 1 - Côte de Levens - 20.5 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal7pts
2Bob Jungels (Lux) Deceuninck-QuickStep5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team3Row 2 - Cell 3
4Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team2Row 3 - Cell 3
5Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe1Row 4 - Cell 3
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KOM 2 - Côte de Châteauneuf - 36.5 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott7pts
2Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida3Row 2 - Cell 3
4Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ2Row 3 - Cell 3
5Elie Gesbert (Fra) Arkéa Samsic1Row 4 - Cell 3
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KOM 2 - Col de Calaïson - 51 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott7pts
2Tejay Van Garderen (USA) EF Education First5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Julien El Fares (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM3Row 2 - Cell 3
4Ivan Garcia (Spa) Bahrain-Merida2Row 3 - Cell 3
5Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha-Alpecin1Row 4 - Cell 3
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KOM 3 - Côte de Peille - 67.5 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team10pts
2Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team8Row 1 - Cell 3
3Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team4Row 3 - Cell 3
5Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team3Row 4 - Cell 3
6Felix Großschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe2Row 5 - Cell 3
7Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Bahrain-Merida1Row 6 - Cell 3
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KOM 4 - Col d'Eze - 83.5 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team10pts
2Tejay Van Garderen (USA) EF Education First8Row 1 - Cell 3
3Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team4Row 3 - Cell 3
5Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Bahrain-Merida3Row 4 - Cell 3
6Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb2Row 5 - Cell 3
7Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale1Row 6 - Cell 3
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KOM 5 - Col des Quatre Chemins - 101 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team7pts
2Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Tejay Van Garderen (USA) EF Education First3Row 2 - Cell 3
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Youth Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Daniel Martinez (Col) EF Education First2:41:28
2Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ0:00:08
3Egan Bernal (Col) Team SkyRow 2 - Cell 2
4Elie Gesbert (Fra) Arkéa Samsic0:01:05
5Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Team Sky0:01:27
6Ivan Sosa (Col) Team Sky0:02:23
7Ivan Garcia (Spa) Bahrain-Merida0:05:42
8Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 7 - Cell 2
9Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team0:08:20
10Hector Carretero (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Jhonatan Manuel Narvaez Prado (Ecu) Team Sky0:10:12
12Alessandro Fedeli (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:10:43
13Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin0:11:44
14Casper Pedersen (Den) Team Sunweb0:14:28
15Pascal Eenkhoorn (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma0:16:22
16Amund Grøndahl Jansen (Nor) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 15 - Cell 2
17Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 16 - Cell 2
18Patrick Müller (Swi) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 17 - Cell 2
19Will Barta (USA) CCC TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Scott Davies (GBr) Dimension DataRow 19 - Cell 2
21Anthony Turgis (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 20 - Cell 2
22Mathias Le Turnier (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 21 - Cell 2
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