Defending champion Maximilian Schachmann was forced to accept the next setback in the long-distance cycling trip between Paris and Nice.
The German champion from Bora-hansgrohe lost 1:29 in the second stage from Auffargis to Orléans to the other top drivers and daytime winner Fabio Jacobsen of Holland. Already in the first stage, Schachmann, who won the traditional race in 2020 and 2021, lost 42 seconds to frontrunner Primoz Roglic of Slovenia. In the general standings, France’s Christophe Laporte is ahead of his teammates Wut van Aert of Belgium and Roglic.
The 159-kilometer stage was marked by edges of wind. About 70 kilometers from the end, the field split into several parts after Roglic Jumbo-Visma’s team increased the pace, with Schachmann trailing and running more than two minutes late at times. Although the group surrounding Berliner was initially able to cut the gap in half, they were unable to make up for it on the fast end.
Thus, Schachmann proceeds to the next stages alone on Roglic with a mortgage of more than two minutes that can hardly be redeemed. On Tuesday, it was more than 191 kilometers from Verzon to Don le Ballestelle, and the finish in particular was very challenging. The race ends on Sunday with a stage around Nice.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 220307-99-422185 / 2 (dpa)
