Last year's winner Maximilian Schachmann got off his bike prematurely at the Paris-Nice cycling race. The German champion did not take part in the fourth stage of the traditional long-distance race, a 13.4 kilometre individual time trial from Domérat to Montlucon.
According to his team Bora-hansgrohe, Schachmann complained of feeling unwell after the third stage. In consultation with the team doctors, it was decided to withdraw the Berlin rider from the race. In sporting terms, the 28-year-old was already without a chance after setbacks on the first two stages. Schachmann had won the race in 2020 and 2021.
In the time trial, the Dutch team Jumbo-Visma celebrated a one-two-three victory, just like on the first stage. Belgian Wout van Aert was two seconds faster than top favourite Primoz Roglic from Slovenia and six seconds faster than Australia's former world champion Rohan Dennis. Van Aert took over the overall leader's yellow jersey from his team-mate Christophe Laporte.
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