A wave of colds at the traditional Paris-Nice long-distance cycling race has resulted in an unprecedented number of illness-related withdrawals in one day.
18 pros did not even turn up for the start of the fifth stage, 13 of whom complained of cold symptoms. Another four pros dropped out during the stage. According to official information, there were no positive corona cases.
German classics specialist Nils Politt was also among those who had to abandon. The Cologne rider from Team Bora-hansgrohe also finished the race prematurely one day after last year's winner Maximilian Schachmann's withdrawal. Team Israel-Premier Tech was only represented by one of the original seven riders.
On the hilly 188.8 kilometre section from Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert to Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut, the overall leader Wout van Aert surprisingly lost the gap early on. As a result, his team-mate and top favourite Primoz Roglic took the initiative and took over the leader's yellow jersey. The stage was won by US rider Brandon McNulty as a soloist.
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