Bunch Dash Faces Tough Decision After Crash-Marred Paris-Great Level Two

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2025-03-10T15:57:21.075Z

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Thank you for becoming a member of us lately. We will be again the following day for a level that may not be gained by way of Tim Merlier – no less than, no longer as a person. It is the group time trial, and would be the first important GC day of the race. 

2025-03-10T15:54:35.658Z

2025-03-10T15:45:23.990Z

No longer handiest did Merlier win once more, he is the one rider from the highest 5 the day prior to this to make the highest 5 once more lately. His closest challengers from the day prior to this,  Démare, Dainese and Molano, had been all a way down this time. 

2025-03-10T15:43:28.855Z

Large Web page is much less glad together with his third-place end. He states in his post-race interview that he can have carried out his dash higher.

2025-03-10T15:42:13.108Z

At the back of Merlier, second-place is a truly just right consequence for Emilien Jeannière. He seemed overjoyed in a post-race interview, and this consequence continues a robust begin to the season that has already noticed him podium at Clasica de Almeria and Ename Samyn Vintage. 

2025-03-10T15:39:59.836Z

That is two in two for Merlier then, a fourth successive bunch dash victory following his back-to-back wins on the UAE Excursion, and a sixth win of the season already. That is changing into a critically just right season for the Belgian, and it is getting onerous to argue that he is not the most productive sprinter on the earth. 

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Pedersen was once significantly better situated this time, however nonetheless light to fourth after Merlier came visiting him.

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Emilien Jeannière was once moment, Large Web page 0.33.

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Axel Zingle started the dash from a long way our, with Merlier fourth in line. But if Merlier started his dash he handed Demare, Pedersen and Zingle to take the win. 

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TIM MERLIER WINS

2025-03-10T15:32:18.807Z

…Merlier wins!

2025-03-10T15:32:08.021Z

Merlier sprints…

2025-03-10T15:31:47.411Z

Soudal transfer to the entrance.

2025-03-10T15:31:16.789Z
1KM TO GO

Ultimate kilometre, nonetheless nobody group in keep watch over.

2025-03-10T15:30:37.889Z

2km to head, and a variety of groups are neck-and-neck on the entrance of the peloton.

2025-03-10T15:30:06.879Z

That is it, Abrahamsen has been stuck Chapeau, that was once some effort.

2025-03-10T15:29:36.897Z

With 3km to head, the catch is set to be made.

2025-03-10T15:28:22.750Z

They are bearing down on Abrahamsen now, and are simply 15 seconds away with 4km to head. That is undoubtedly going to be a dash.

2025-03-10T15:26:45.761Z
5KM TO GO

Soudal-QuickStep are at the entrance, and now the distance is beginning to come down. It is at 24 seconds with 5km to head.

2025-03-10T15:26:16.079Z

The peloton is safely across the ultimate sharp nook of the race. The general 6km is an extended, instantly run-in to the end.

2025-03-10T15:25:07.025Z

There are groups on the entrance now environment a quick tempo, together with Visma-Rent a Motorbike, however they are not making any inroads. 

2025-03-10T15:24:26.812Z

7km to head, it is nonetheless 31 seconds. 

2025-03-10T15:23:11.090Z

With 8km to head, the distance’s nonetheless no longer coming down. It is at 33 seconds. 

2025-03-10T15:22:52.515Z

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Here is the crash that occured throughout the intermediate dash.

2025-03-10T15:21:10.750Z
10KM TO GO

Over 30 seconds once more now for Abrahamsen. No group is taking accountability to deliver him again. 

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That is additionally allowed Abrahamsen to develop out his lead just a little once more, again as much as 25 seconds.

2025-03-10T15:18:27.584Z

The tempo is down within the peloton, and all the ones riders GC riders who had been distenced are again. 

2025-03-10T15:17:54.647Z

Affirmation coming thru that Durbridge has DNFed.

2025-03-10T15:17:23.177Z

Listed below are the consequences from the intermediate dash. Mick van Dijke in fact pipped Jorgenson on the line, that means the American good points two moderately than 4 seconds.

1 Jonas Abrahamsen 

2 Mick van Dijke

3 Matteo Jorgenson

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They nonetheless have Abrahamsen to catch, however amid all this task, his lead has been significantly lower to a a lot more manageable 15 seconds.

2025-03-10T15:15:07.203Z

Those riders must all be OK, because the peloton don’t seem to be urgent on.

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O’Connor could also be chasing, in a small crew between the ones chaers at the back of him and the peloton.

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Gall and Romeo also are on this crew.

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Some giant GC names were stuck out within the cut up – Almeida and Skjelmose are in a bunch chasing the peloton.

2025-03-10T15:13:06.870Z

Caja Rural’s Gorka Sorarrain was once the opposite rider down with Durbridge, whilst Barguil was once the PicnicPostNL rider to fall after. 

2025-03-10T15:12:04.331Z

The preliminary crash has brought about some splits within the peloton.

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And now a PicnicPostNL rider has long past down going spherical a nook. He is again up regardless that and chasing. 

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Whilst he was once sprinting for the seconds, additional down the peloton was once any other crash. Two riders are down and clutching their shoulders – certainly one of them is Luke Durbridge.

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Jorgenson wins the dash – that is any other 4 seconds he is received. 

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Visma-Rent a Motorbike are main it out.

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Some task within the peloton as they means the bell – there are bonus seconds to be had right here.

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20KM TO GO

Now his lead dips beneath one minute for the primary time shortly, as he crosses the end line for the primary time. It is unlikey he will nonetheless be out in entrance when he subsequent crosses it

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The peloton is ultimately making some inroads on Abrahamsen. His lead has dropped from 1-30 to 1-10 over the previous couple of kilometres. 

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Curiously, in an interview recorded prior to the level, Tim Merlier printed that he struggles to sleep the evening after a host dash – which might provide an explanation for why he so steadily wins the primary bunch dash of a level race, however isn’t so robust within the following levels.

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Abrahamsen continues to be making existence onerous for the peloton, protecting a lead of 1-30. 25km to head. 

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The space’s getting larger moderately than smaller, and is now as much as 1-30. For sure Abrahamsen can not pull off a marvel?

2025-03-10T14:57:34.686Z

Motorbike trade for Lorenzo Milesi within the peloton.

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30KM TO GO

The peloton can’t have the funds for to depart it too past due to chase down Abrahamsen. He nonetheless has a lead of 1-25 and continues to be having a look robust.

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Here is the peloton just a little previous, throughout one of the vital fights for place forward of a nook. 

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The peloton continues to be reorganising itself post-crash. Merlier is out the again within the vehicles having taken a convenience ruin, whilst they’ve now fallen 1-25 at the back of Abrahamsen.

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Arnaud Démare is the newest rider to get again into the peloton from that crash. He is in competition, however might be carried out a lead-out guy following the withdrawal of Sénéchal.

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Here is Abrahamsen out on his personal. 

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40KM TO GO

Out forward, in the meantime, Abrahamsen has grown his result in over one minute, to 1-15. He may well be out for some time longer but, given how tough a rider he’s. 

2025-03-10T14:44:01.615Z

Most of the riders held up by way of the crash are actually again within the peloton.

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 Sénéchal is leaving the race.

2025-03-10T14:41:26.862Z

A lot of giant names had been held up by way of that crash, and are having to make their technique to the peloton. Amongst them are Arnaud Démare, Santiago Buitrago and Lenny Martinez.

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Florian Sénéchal continues to be seated at the flooring alternatively, and looks as if he could be about to desert. 

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Samuel Leroux was once the primary guy to head down, close to the entrance of the peloton. He was once additionally one of the vital toughest down, however is again up on his motorbike.

2025-03-10T14:38:23.961Z

A lot of riders were held up, together with the yellow jersey. However only some have hit the deck onerous. 

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CRASH

Large crash within the peloton.

2025-03-10T14:34:12.457Z

Martin is again within the peloton, aided by way of any other lower within the tempo. 

2025-03-10T14:32:54.568Z
50KM TO GO

Abrahamsen is in fact going sooner now the opposite two have long past. He is construction the lead once more, as much as 30 seconds. 

2025-03-10T14:31:12.029Z

Fernández is again within the peloton, leaving simply Abrahamsen out in entrance. 

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Now Abrahamsen rides clear of Fernández. He obviously desires to combativity award too. 

2025-03-10T14:29:46.730Z

Delettre has sat up and is again within the peloton, however Abrahamsen is preventing him.

2025-03-10T14:28:59.949Z

Fernández has attacked the others, however he is handiest delaying the inevitable. 

2025-03-10T14:27:24.454Z

The peloton can see the ruin now, who might be stuck quickly.

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Martin is again up with a brand new motorbike, and making his as far back as the peloton. 

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Attributable to this rigidity, a Guillame Martin has long past down going round that nook. 

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The tempo is truly up within the peloton now, as they struggle for place forward of a good nook. 

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Delettre, Fernández and Abrahamsen within the day’s ruin (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)

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Lidl, Visma, Ineos and Soudal are the 4 groups maximum distinguished.

2025-03-10T14:20:28.872Z
60KM TO GO

Issues are livening up now, as some jostling for place takes position. The breakaway riders have felt this variation – their lead is now an insignificant 20 seconds.

2025-03-10T14:19:41.606Z

Vingegaard has additionally mentioned Visma-Rent a Motorbike’s technique at Paris-Great, downplaying attainable rigidity between himself and protecting champion Matteo Jorgenson, who the day prior to this picked up some bonus seconds. He described their courting as ‘excellent’, and described himself as ‘not a selfish guy who only thinks of himself’.

“If he will get right into a extra promising place than me, I can gladly sacrifice myself.”

2025-03-10T14:16:57.320Z

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Right here’s Jonas Vingegaard within the peloton, who had some fascinating issues to mention in an interview with Nieuwsblad. He indicated that he would no longer let his kids absorb motorbike racing, because of it being too bad – one thing he is aware of all too neatly, having feared for his existence after falling ultimately yr’s Basque Nation Excursion horror crash.

2025-03-10T14:11:25.390Z

It was once a gradual motorbike trade for Vinokourov, leaving him 1-40 at the back of the peloton. However that may not be an issue as long as the tempo stays this gradual.

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A mechanical for Nicolas Vinokurov, Alexander’s 22-year-old son who is competing for his Astana.

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70KM TO GO

The space’s maintaining secure, at a couple of minute nonetheless.

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It’s gradual sufficient within the peloton for a number of riders to take convenience breaks. 

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Listed below are the ones aforementioned Visma riders close to the entrance of the peloton, surrounding and protective their chief and race favorite Jonas Vingegaard. This has been a easy day for the Dane, which do not need been the case had the wind blown. 

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80KM TO GO

The space’s grown again to over a minute, however handiest simply – it is at 1-03 as we input 80km to head.

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Of the ones Visma riders, Victor Campanaerts is having a talk with some others. That he is in a position to to in spite of being so on the subject of the entrance of the peloton confirms how calm issues are. 

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The peloton is being led by way of one Lidl-Trek rider, and one Soudal-QuickStep rider, with a swarm of yellow Visma-Rent a Motorbike riders at the back of. 

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The trio’s lead has dipped beneath one minute for the primary time shortly.

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90KM TO GO

The riders have handed the level’s midway level, and the distance stays secure at about 1-20.

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Pedersen’s travails have no longer discouraged his Lidl-Trek group lately. Right here they’re pulling on the entrance of the peloton.

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One rider hoping for higher fortunes lately is Mads Pedersen. The Dane completed down in twelfth the day prior to this having been one of the vital favorites for the level win, and afterwards, in his normally frank model, criticised his teammates for making errors within the lead-out.

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100KM TO GO

The space’s come down some extra as we input the overall 100km, to 1-20.

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Danny van Poppel has deserted the race. That’s unlucky for the Purple Bull-Bora Hansgrohe rider, who seemed in nice form main out Sam Welsford on the Excursion Down Beneath bunch sprints, and had the risk to dash for himself right here.

2025-03-10T13:16:35.416Z

Because the race continues in it is comfy, uneventful state, the distance is now being reported at closer to 2 mins once more, at 1-50.

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Dressed in the golf green jersey on mortgage from Tim Merlier, having positioned moment in the day prior to this’s dash, is Arnaud Démare. That spectacular dash presentations he’s in nice shape once more, and may well be poised for a primary win since September ultimate yr – and primary at International Excursion stage since 2022.

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110KM TO GO

Nonetheless the distance stays secure, at about 1-20.

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Right here’s Tim Merlier within the yellow jersey, earned after successful the day prior to this’s level. The Belgian has a fantastic addiction of successful the primary bunch dash of races – can he make it back-to-back victories lately?

2025-03-10T13:04:15.747Z
120KM TO GO

Simply 1-20 now for the 3 leaders over the peloton. That is enjoying out in a lot the similar method as the day prior to this’s level, with the ruin no longer being granted a lot of a bonus by way of a peloton made up our minds to stay issues below keep watch over. 

2025-03-10T12:50:16.338Z

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The 3 riders within the ruin. It is a chilly day to be out off the entrance of the race, regardless that the additional effort being made will have the good thing about holding them hotter.

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Listed below are the up to date KOM standings, which, with out a extra climbs to return, will stay the similar come the top of the level (equipped no person DNFs). Delettre is all set to be in polka-dots once more the following day. 

1 Alexandre Delettre (12 issues)

2 Samuel Fernández (6 issues)

3 Jonas Abrahameon (4 issues)

4 Matteo Jorgenson (3 issues)

5 Julian Alaphilippe (2 issues)

6 Taco van der Hoorn (2 issues)

1 Florian Lipowitz (1 level)

2025-03-10T12:42:45.840Z
130KM TO GO

Their lead has come down just a little extra, to 1-50.

2025-03-10T12:42:22.093Z

As soon as once more Delettre takes the issues, from Abrahamsen and Fernández.

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CÔTE DE LA VILLENEUVE

The riders are actually on the second one and ultimate categorized climb of the day, Côte de los angeles Villeneuve. It is more straightforward than the ultimate, hiking at simply 3.5% for 1km.

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Paris-Great isn’t the one International Excursion level race taking place lately. Over in Italy, it’s the outlet day of Tirreno-Adriatico, the place the likes of Adam Yates, Juan Ayuso and Filippo Ganna are duking it out in a time trial. You’ll be able to observe all of the motion right here.

2025-03-10T12:32:11.271Z

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Soudal-QuickStep are main the peloton, controlling issues for his or her sprinter Tim Merlier. Merlier is aiming for a moment victory in two days, and a 6th of the season, after very easily successful the day prior to this’s dash. At this fee, it’d take a courageous punter to wager in opposition to him.

2025-03-10T12:24:55.432Z
140KM TO GO

2-15 these days is the distance. The race is in a maintaining development. 

2025-03-10T12:21:58.013Z

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Gray skies at Paris-Great lately.

2025-03-10T12:17:04.444Z

Right here’s the up to date KOM classification:

1 Alexandre Delettre (9 issues)

2 Samuel Fernández (5 issues)

3 Matteo Jorgenson (3 issues)

4 Julian Alaphilippe (2 issues)

5 Jonas Abrahamsen (2 issues)

6 Taco Van der Horn (2 issues)

7 Florian Lipowitz (1 level)

2025-03-10T12:15:14.715Z
CÔTE DES MESNULS

The leaders have crested the climb, and Delettre has higher his lead within the KOM classification by way of being first over the road forward of Abrahamsen and Fernández. 

2025-03-10T12:11:23.115Z
150KM TO GO

They are at the climb now, and the distance between the leaders and the peloton is 2-30.

2025-03-10T12:07:02.648Z

The street is set to tilt uphill as they close to Côte des Mesnuls. The professional climb handiest lasts 1.2km (at a manageable 5.6%), nevertheless it does drag for a couple of kilometres prior to then.

2025-03-10T12:01:10.243Z

The space’s come down some extra now, to 2-15.

2025-03-10T11:57:02.356Z

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Here is the ruin being shaped just a little previous. As you’ll be able to inform from their apparel, it is chilly available in the market lately. 

2025-03-10T11:54:13.087Z
160KM TO GO

As they had been the day prior to this, the peloton is being cautious to not let this ruin get too giant an opening. Having let it develop out to three mins, they have introduced them again to nearer to 2-30.

2025-03-10T11:52:58.203Z

The primary of the ones climbs, Côte des Mesnuls, is arising in about 10km.

2025-03-10T11:48:25.394Z

While the day prior to this’s parcours was once rolling, this one is far flatter. Even though there are a few categorized climbs, neither are for much longer than a kilometre, and there’s slightly a lump within the street somewhere else.

2025-03-10T11:44:16.789Z

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Delettre is dressed in the polka-dot jersey within the ruin lately, having claimed essentially the most mointains issues the day prior to this. Right here he’s gathering his prize the day prior to this.

2025-03-10T11:37:34.234Z
170KM TO GO

The peloton has allowed the main trio a lead of 3 mins. 

2025-03-10T11:36:58.707Z

A flat tyre for Josh Tarling within the peloton, however he will dissipate no power rejoining with the tempo within the peloton low.

2025-03-10T11:30:42.843Z

Van Lerberghe’s efforts are short-lived. He is again within the peloton.

2025-03-10T11:29:16.232Z

One rider who is not glad regardless that is Bert Van Lerberghe. He is additionally attacked out the peloton and is attempting to bridge up. 

2025-03-10T11:28:41.008Z

The peloton turns out glad to let this one cross, and feature allowed them a lead of over a minute already.

2025-03-10T11:27:33.117Z

This time they’re accompanied no longer by way of Taco Van der Hoorn, however any other famend breakaway specialist of equivalent calibre – Jonas Abrahamsen, who was once the big name of the breakaways ultimately yr’s Excursion de France.

2025-03-10T11:25:51.505Z

3 riders have attacked, together with two of them who had been up the street the day prior to this: Alexandre Delettre (Workforce TotalEnergies) and Samuel Fernández (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA).

2025-03-10T11:23:44.467Z
184KM TO GO

And they are off!

2025-03-10T11:22:24.893Z

We’re down one rider in the beginning lately. Kasper Asgreen fell in poor health in a single day and has determined to tug out. It’s been a quiet begin to existence at EF Schooling-EasyPost for the Dane, who moved from Soudal-QuickStep this yr.

2025-03-10T11:15:36.564Z

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And listed here are the riders in the beginning of the neutralised zone. They’re going to be formally racing quickly.

2025-03-10T11:13:49.814Z

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Here is the scene from Montesson on the level’s get started. 

2025-03-10T11:10:52.456Z

Will that be the case lately? Whilst stipulations indubitably aren’t splendid, with rain within the air and chilly temperatures, there aren’t any indicators of any robust winds but.

2025-03-10T11:06:20.926Z

Issues are hardly ever that easy at Paris-Great, alternatively. The uncovered roads that this level takes position on are steadily suffering from robust winds, and has in previous editions produced echelon racing and crosswind chaos.

2025-03-10T10:59:13.474Z

You sign up for us for what is predicted to be any other day for the sprinters at Paris-Great, with a flat parcours that includes handiest a few small categorized climbs.

2025-03-05T21:44:15.821Z

Hi and welcome to level two of Paris-Great.