The final showdown

March 16 ^th 2025 - 04:41

The weather conditions have been brutal but Paris-Nice finally reaches its final destination, and patches of blue sky may even accompany the riders as they take on the final challenges of the 83rd edition of the Race to the Sun. Matteo Jorgenson holds on to a strong lead, 37’’ ahead of Florian Lipowitz, with Thymen Arensman (+1’20’’) in 3rd place after Mattias Skjelmose crashed out on Saturday. The American is strong and confident. But he knows his lead can suddenly vanish, having himself overturned the standings on the final day last year.

The terrain is suited for an exhilarating day of racing, again, with constant ups and downs on the Côte de Peille, the Col d'Èze, and the Col des Quatre Chemins, with its daunting gradients reaching up to 18%. Will it be enough to turn the tables for Jorgenson’s rivals? UAE Team Emirates-XRG's João Almeida and Brandon McNulty, further back in GC, will also want to bring battle. And let’s not forget Lidl-Trek's Mads Pedersen, ready to deliver raw power on all sorts of terrain, especially in the absence of Mattias Skjelmose.