Egan Bernal wins Paris-Nice as Ion Izagirre claims final stage

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Egan Bernal wins Paris-Nice 2019

Egan Bernal (Team Sky) won the Paris-Nice after resisting a bold offensive from fellow Nairo Quintana (Movistar) in Sunday’s final stage.

Quintana secured a second-placed finish after Ion Izagirre (Astana) won the eighth stage on the ”Promenade des Anglais” along the Mediterranean Sea.

Bernal, one of the most promising riders of his generation, moved into the overall lead after Saturday’s penultimate stage at the summit of the Col de Turini.

Quintana’s efforts nearly paid off but the climber had to be content with a runner-up finish, 39 seconds behind Bernal. Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) completed the podium.

Quintana made his move on the Cote de Peille and led a group of 12 riders at the top of the climb. The Colombian had a 55-second lead over Bernal at some point but a lack of cooperation within the breakaway group in the descent to Nice proved costly for the former Giro and Vuelta champion.

Izagirre secured the stage’s win by dropping his breakaway companions in the finale.

“I can’t believe that I just won Paris-Nice. It’s incredible for me. I’m really happy. I just can’t believe it yet,” Bernal said. “When some GC riders started to attack I knew I could follow them, but also I know that I have a really good, strong team, and my team can control these races.

“So it wasn’t too difficult to be calm because I really believe in my team. They did a really, really good job. We knew it was the last day so they pulled really hard.

“Nairo was really strong but I had a really good team – Kwiatkowski, Sosa, Tao [Geoghegan Hart]. When Quintana attacked I thought if I followed then after I may be alone. I preferred to wait a little bit, stay calm.”

Bernal secured a sixth victory in seven years for Team Sky in Paris-Nice.

Paris-Nice 2019 – stage 8 results (Nice – Nice):

1Ion Izagirre (Astana)

2:41:10

2Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale)

+18”

3Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb)

,,

4Daniel Martinez (EF Education First)

,,

5Felix Großschartner (Bora-hansgrohe)

,,

6Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida)

,,

7Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana)

,,

8Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott)

+20”

9Tejay Van Garderen (EF Education First)

,,

10Nairo Quintana (Movistar)

+22”

 

Paris-Nice 2019 – final general classification:

1Egan Bernal (Team Sky)

29:17:02

2Nairo Quintana (Movistar)

+39”

3Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky)

+01’03”

4Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott)

+01’21”

5Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale)

+01’45”

6George Bennett (Jumbo-Visma)

+02’20”

7Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ)

+03’02”

8Bob Jungels (Deceuninck-Quick-Step)

+03’06”

9Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana)

+03’12”

10Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin)

+04’07”

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