Mar 10, 2023 at 11:45Update: 3 minutes ago
Friday’s sixth stage of Paris-Nice has been considerably shortened due to the strong wind. The first part of the ride has been neutralized, so that only 79 kilometers are really raced. The wind is also causing problems in the Tirreno-Adriatico.
Gusts of wind with speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour have been measured in Paris-Nice. The organization does not consider it responsible to continue the course as planned. That’s why the peloton starts in La Fontaine d’Aragon. That means that the first 117.8 kilometers are neutralized and only two of the five climbs remain.
The focus is on the Côte de la Colle-Sur-Loup, a 1.8 kilometer climb with an average gradient of 10 percent. That mountain is about 30 kilometers from the finish line. The start time of the sixth stage has been moved to 2 p.m. due to the adjustments.
Tadej Pogacar is the leader in the general classification of Paris-Nice. The Slovenian is 6 seconds ahead of the Frenchman David Gaudu and 46 seconds ahead of his great rival Jonas Vingegaard, the leader of Jumbo-Visma.
The wind also plays a negative leading role in the Tirreno-Adriatico, although it has much less consequences in the Italian stage race. The fifth stage – a 168 kilometer queen stage – has been shortened by 3 kilometers due to wind at the finish.
In the Tirreno the ranking is led by Lennard Kämna. Primoz Roglic of Jumbo-Visma occupies second place, six seconds behind the German of BORA-hansgrohe. The finish is expected around 4 p.m.