Sunday 12 March is the day that an important stage race from the WorldTour finishes in two places in Europe. Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico will be raced one more time and, as so often, many riders like it that way, just before the finish.
In Paris-Nice, Tim Merlier will no longer start in the eighth stage, which is traditionally tough and mountainous around Nice. The Belgian from Alpecin-Deceuninck won the opening stage after a bunch sprint and will therefore return home satisfied. Two other names that didn’t start: Jason Osborne (Team DSM) and Michael Matthews (Team Jayco).
Lutsenko sick in the Tirreno, Kelderman also gives up
In the Tirreno-Adriatico, Alexey Lutsenko bit off Astana Qazaqstan, although the Kazakh did not do so voluntarily. Lutsenko had apparently been struggling with a chest infection for several days and a fever was added on Sunday. He will no longer start in stage seven.
Most important assignment in Italy: Wilco Kelderman. The Dutchman from Jumbo-Visma crashed in the sixth stage on Friday. He still finished the stage, but finished fifteen minutes behind the winner. Afterwards he complained of pain in the genitals. It AD reports that Kelderman will not go further for that reason and will soon be investigated further.
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