A good day at the front and a visit to the podium for Soudal Quick-Step’s 29-year-old.
Casper Pedersen became the first Dane in three years to don the best climber’s jersey in Paris-Nice after an incredibly strong display in the breakaway. On Sunday, Casper made his fourth appearance at the renowned “Race to the Sun” and attacked as soon as the flag was dropped, establishing a breakaway alongside five other riders on this stage that began from Achères, a town lying about 25 kilometers from the capital.
Although their gap over the peloton never exceeded more a minute and a half at any point during the race, the sextet worked well together, which allowed them to fight for all four classified climbs on the course. Pedersen won the first three ascents of the day – including the steep Côte de Chanteloup-les-Vignes – which made him virtual leader of the KOM classification, and continued to tap out a strong rhythm in the lead group.
The escapees made it over the last climb just 30 seconds ahead of the chasers, but they kept believing in their chances, and Casper was one of the group’s engines, bravely fighting on and taking long pulls without looking back and surviving at the front until 1600 meters to go.
“On a stage like this there’s always a lot of tension in the peloton, so this can sometimes benefit the breakaway. Once we were at the front, everybody there knew we had a chance and we went for it. The group was strong and experienced, and we also had a plan, which we executed flawlessly, of ramping up the speed in the final 55 kilometers, and giving our best. Unfortunately, the bunch had an extra gear in the finale and brought us back not far from the line.”
“I’m not a climber, but I’m happy to wear the polka dot jersey. It’s an iconic jersey of a prestigious race, and it will bring a lot of pride to have it on my shoulders on Monday”, Casper said after the podium ceremony in Carrières-sous-Poissy.
Photo credit: ©Szymon Gruchalski / Getty Images
