Paris-Nice 2019: Ion Izagirre wins final stage, Bernal seals GC victory

Paris-Nice concludes with a a short and explosive race with six intermediate climbs. Ion Izagirre solos to victory, while Egan Bernal holds off a Quintana attack to seal the overall win. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 8th stage Paris-Nice 2019

1. Ion Izagirre (spa)
2. Oliver Naesen (bel) + 0.18
3. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
4. Daniel Felipe Martínez (col) s.t.
5. Felix Großschartner (aut) s.t.
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.
7. Luis León Sánchez (spa) s.t.
8. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.20
9. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
10. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.22

18. Egan Bernal (col) + 0.26

GC after stage 8
1. Egan Bernal (col)
2. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.39
3. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 1.03
4. Jack Haig (aus) + 1.21
5. Romain Bardet (fra) + 1.45
6. George Bennett (nzl) + 2.20
7. Rudy Molard (fra) + 3.02
8. Bob Jungels (lux) + 3.06
9. Luis León Sánchez (spa) + 3.12
10. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 4.07

Race report
Matteo Trentin, Nils Politt, Amael Moinard and Niccolo Bonifazio jump clear at kilometre 2. A lot of riders bridge across on the first climb, Côte de Levens, while Jungels and KOM leader De Gendt escape to crest the summit together with the Flemish rider pocketing most KOM points. On descent they rejoin the chasers.

The front group features 37 riders: Soler, Anacona, Carretero, Yates, Trentin, Lopez, Houle, Ion Izagirre, Sanchez, De Gendt, Pozzovivo, Colbrelli, Garcia, Teunes, Konrad, Grosschartner, Naesen, Sergio Henao, Bernard, Madouas, Jungels, Zakarin, Politt, Spilak, Gesbert, Moinard, Martínez, Van Garderen, Kelderman, Edet, Perrichon, Antunes, De Marchi, Calmejane, Hivert, Pacher and El Fares.

Trentin goes alone on the Côte de Chateuneuf and he is the first rider on the top. De Gendt is second. Van Garderen and El Fares chase down Trentin on the Col de Calaison, while the chasers are brought back by the peloton just before the Côte de Peille.

Van Garderen goes solo in the climb and Trentin and El Fares are caught. Movistar sets the pace and the main group breaks. Quintana, Soler, Yates, Lopez, Izagirre, Sanchez, Pozzovivo, Grossschartner, Naesen, Martinez and Kelderman gobble up the American at the top, while leader Bernal is almost 1 minute in arrears.

Quintana pockets 3 seconds in the La Turbie intermediate sprint. The gap remains stable on the Col d’Èze, which means he is the virtual leader.

Izagirre and Van Garderen strike on the last climb before the Spaniard pushes on alone. He is the first rider on the summit and flies down to Nice to seal the win.

Behind him Quintana is left to his own resources with little help from his companions in the chase group. Bernal almost makes it back to his wheel and crosses the line 4 seconds behind his compatriot. So the 22-year old Colombian wins his first Race to the Sun, while the podium is rounded out by Quintana and Kwiatkowski.

Another interesting read: route 8th stage Parijs-Nice 2019.