2024 Paris-Nice Stage 1 Results & Recap
Stage 1 of the 2024 Paris-Nice is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Olav Kooij wins stage 1
Olav Kooij (TVL) took home top honors on stage 1 of the Race to the Sun after outkicking pre-race favourite Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) on a slightly uphill and demanding sprint to open this year's edition. Laurence Pithie (GFC) claimed third.
We knew it was difficult, but we decided to try all the same," Kooij said to reporters after the race. "Thanks to the guys, I managed to survive on the climbs and I knew I could go for victory. It was a very hard sprint, and I’m glad I won. We knew it was ideal for Mads and he was almost impossible to beat but I beat him in the past and I’m glad I could do it again. I enjoyed Paris-Nice last year and I’m glad to be back and win again. Tomorrow is another sprint day and I’ll be glad to ride with this jersey on the back and we’ll see how far I can take it."
Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies), Stefan Bissegger and Jonas Rutsch (EF Education-Easypost), attacked from the start and immediately gained an advantage that lasted the majority of the stage.
"We hoped some more guys would join us but it was not really happening," said Rutsch, who gained enough KOM points to claim the polka dot jersey at the end of the stage. "Then we were out there, so we made the best out of the day and had a go. Yeah you coud say it was kind of a training day for the team time trial but joke aside, it was a super tough day, it was also pretty nervous back in the peloton. Staying in the front is also a way to stay out of the stress. The jersey is a nice reward at the end of the day.I think we’ll try to keep it tomorrow."\n
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