Achères, France – Luke Lamperti of EF Education-EasyPost delivered a stunning sprint victory on the opening stage of Paris-Nice on Sunday, marking his first professional win at the WorldTour level. The 23-year-old American outmaneuvered a field of seasoned sprinters, including former Tour de France green jersey winner Biniam Girmay, in a thrilling finish. This win is particularly significant as Lamperti’s debut victory with his new team, following his transfer from Soudal Quick-Step this winter.
Lamperti’s triumph wasn’t simply a display of speed; it was a masterclass in positioning and timing. Receiving a strong leadout from teammate Marijn Van Den Berg, he navigated the chaotic final kilometers and launched his sprint perfectly, holding off challenges from experienced rivals. The victory secures him the first leader’s jersey of the race and provides a substantial confidence boost heading into the challenging stages to arrive. The American sprinter’s performance underscores a growing trend of American success in the sport of professional cycling.
Vito Braet (Lotto Intermarché) finished second, and Orluis Aular (Movistar Team) rounded out the podium in third. “I know I have been going well and to actually get a win and get the momentum rolling, especially as a sprinter, is really crucial,” Lamperti said. “For me This proves the biggest win I have had in my career. It will be great for the rest of the season and before the Classics.”
Breakaway Bid Falls Short
The opening stage of Paris-Nice, covering a hilly 177.9 kilometers from Achères, wasn’t solely destined for a bunch sprint. A determined breakaway group of six riders – Patrick Gamper and Luke Durbridge (Jayco-AlUla), Casper Pedersen (Soudal-QuickStep), Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Sébastien Grignard (Lotto Intermarché), and Mathis Le Berre (TotalEnergies) – attempted to establish a lasting lead. Their advantage peaked at 1 minute and 40 seconds with 30 kilometers remaining, but the relentless pace set by teams including Visma-Lease a Bike and NSN Pro Cycling gradually reeled them in.
As the race approached the final 16 kilometers, featuring the challenging Côte de Chanteloup les Vignes climb, a late attack from Ewan Coutou (Groupama) and Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) briefly threatened to disrupt the anticipated bunch sprint. Although, general classification (GC) contenders, including Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), maintained close proximity, preventing the attackers from gaining a significant advantage. A final surge from Grignard and Pedersen was also neutralized before the final kilometer.
Vingegaard Unaffected by Late Crash
The finale was marred by a crash inside the final 1000 meters, impacting several riders, including GC hopeful Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious). Despite being caught behind the incident, Vingegaard, a key favorite for the overall title, was granted the same time as the group he was with, per UCI regulations. With time bonuses applied, Vingegaard now sits ten seconds behind Lamperti in the general classification. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers), and Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) also share the same time as Vingegaard, setting the stage for a competitive week of racing.
The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of Paris-Nice, where even a minor setback can have significant consequences in the overall standings. Vingegaard’s ability to remain competitive despite the crash demonstrates his resilience and the strength of his Visma-Lease a Bike team.
The race continues on Monday with a challenging stage expected to further test the riders’ climbing abilities. Lamperti’s victory provides a significant morale boost for EF Education-EasyPost, even as Vingegaard and the other GC contenders will be looking to gain time and establish their dominance in the days to come. The coming stages will reveal whether Lamperti can maintain his lead and whether Vingegaard can overcome the early time loss and contend for the overall victory.
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