Paris-Nice 2024: Kooij rides out of Ackermann's slipstream to victory in Sisteron
Sebastian Lindner
· 07.03.2024
Olav Kooij was already the fastest at the start of Paris-Nice. And the 22-year-old from Team Visma | Lease a Bike was also able to celebrate on stage 5, the last chance for the sprinters in the course of the long-distance race. Once again he beat Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) into second place. Third place went to Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) after a good performance.
The Palatinate rider slapped his handlebars in annoyance at the finish line. For a long time, it looked as if Ackermann could record the first victory for his new team. In Pedersen's slipstream, he had put himself in a good starting position before Kooij flew from far behind, first to Ackermann's rear wheel - and then past everyone else.
Ackermann takes a sideways glance at his old team: "Better bike than in recent years"
In the winner's interview, stage winner Kooij spoke of a "pretty tough day" after the day's breakaway group had been difficult to control in the headwind - especially after two more riders joined a sextet in the final third of the race. "We had to work all day and then had no riders left in the finale. I had to find my own way and luckily I was able to sprint."
And Ackermann was also able to laugh again a few minutes later in the interview. "I was happy to have found Mads' rear wheel. Unfortunately, I just didn't have the legs to pass him," said the 30-year-old. "At first I thought I could do it, but I left a bit too early and should have waited a bit longer. But it was my first sprint of the season." Neither during the current stage race nor previously at his season opener at the UAE Tour has he been able to get to the front.
Speaking of the UAE - during the interview, Ackermann took a little dig at his old team from the Emirates, for whom he had ridden for the past two years. "We have a super-fast bike," said Ackermann, praising his new team. Factor Ostro VAM"much better than in previous years." The UAE Team Emirates is equipped by Colnago.
No change in the overall standings: Plapp still in yellow, but new leader in the points classification
There were no changes in the overall standings, with Luke Plapp (Team Jayco-AlUla) remaining in the yellow jersey. Pedersen has replaced Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) in the points classification and will therefore ride in green from tomorrow. The mountains jersey remains on the shoulders of Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies).
Paris-Nice 2024 - Results: The top 10 of stage 5
- Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) 4:23:44
- Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) +0:00
- Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) +0:00
- Sam Bennett (Decathlon - AG2R La Mondiale) +0:00
- Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:00
- Tobias Lund Andresen (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +0:00
- Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +0:00
- Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) +0:00
- Madis Mihkels (Intermarche-Wanty) +0:00
- Dusan Rajovic (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:00
The current standings in the overall standings
- Luke Plapp (Team Jayco-AlUla) 17:38:48
- Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:13
- Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) +0:27
- Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +0:29
- Remco Evenepoel (Soudal - Quick Step) +0:30
- Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:40
- Chris Harper (Team Jayco-AlUla) +0:46
- Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:52
- Rigoberto Uran (EF Education EasyPost) +0:54
- Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) +1:02
How the 5th stage of Paris-Nice 2024 went
Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) was the first to pedal after about five of the 195 kilometres between Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut and Sisteron. He was joined shortly afterwards by team-mate Sandy Dujardin, Mathias Noorsgard (Movistar), Mathijs Paaschens (Lotto-Dstny), Alex Gougeard (Cofidis) and Dries De Bondt (Decathlon - AG2R La Mondiale). The sextet took a little while to find their feet, but then built up a lead of up to two and a half minutes - the peloton didn't allow any more.
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck, persistent knee pain) and Andrea Piccolo (EF Education EasyPost, shoulder injury) were missing there and did not start stage 5. Later, Julius van den Berg, Fabio Jakobsen (both dsm-firmenich PostNL) and stage winner on day two, Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling) also had to abandon the race.
Lotto duo jumps to the front
The first of the day's four 3rd category mountain classifications at the Col de la Sausse was won by group initiator Latour. On the approach to the second mountain classification at the Col de Peyruergue, the breakaway's lead shrank to less than a minute. The Lotto duo of Victor Campenaerts and Pascal Eenkhoorn seized the opportunity and jumped to the front of the group, meaning that the team was represented by three riders at the front after 115 kilometres.
Meanwhile, Latour struck again in the mountain classification, 65 kilometres before the finish on the Côte de La Rochette-du-Buis for the third time. The first sprinters in the peloton had to let go on the short but steep climb. They could no longer keep up with the pace set by David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), who had been six minutes down the day before after getting his rain jacket tangled in his bike and crashing, for his fast man Pithie.
Runaway riders caught shortly after the intermediate sprint
With the fresh Lotto forces, the lead grew again slightly on the way to the last mountain classification of the day, 1:15 minutes ahead of the eight at the front 50 kilometres before the finish. At the top, Latour was again first at the Col de la Pigiere classification line and collected double points at the last mountain classification of the day with six.
In the long descent that followed, the gap shrank again, Lidl-Trek invested a lot to bring about the bunch sprint for captain Pedersen. Latour was swallowed up by the peloton 23 kilometres before the finish, and Gougeard and Paaschens were also dropped. The remaining five riders made it to the intermediate sprint with difficulty, which was held on the finishing straight with ten kilometres to go.
Kooij with a long run-up to victory
The last breakaway riders were then caught on the additional loop. A number of riders, both GC rivals and the sprinter teams, took advantage of the momentum and the slightly ascending route to possibly break away from the peloton again. In the end, no one was able to break away, but the move cost the sprinters energy and helpers. In addition, a lot of order was lost.
Team Israel-Premier Tech was the first to find them again. Ackermann's team took the lead in the last five kilometres, with Jayco-AlUla and Tudor also making a move at the front shortly before the end. On the final straight, however, Lidl-Trek was in front. Pedersen was the first top sprinter to go into the wind 250 metres before the line. From his rear wheel, the well-placed Ackermann initially rode up to the same height as the Dane. But Kooij came from behind the German's wheel. The Dutchman had the best legs and ultimately sprinted confidently to victory, with Pedersen taking second place.
