In today’s CyclingTips Daily News Digest: Alaphilippe wins Paris-Nice time trial, takes over lead; BMC wins Tirreno-Adriatico TTT opener; Q&A with Axel Merckx: Team’s exclusion from California is ‘unfortunate for development of US cycling’; Froome declines to support Brailsford; Three Sky riders break front wheels in Tirreno-Adriatico TTT, dashing GC plans; Sagan shows up at Tirreno-Adriatico with thumb wrapped; Groenewegen upset over Paris-Nice performance; Gent-Wevelgem to honour Antoine Demoitié; Christian Prudhomme: ASO backs the MPCC; Video shows baggage handlers tossing bike cases from EasyJet plane; 2017 Paris-Nice: Stage 4 highlights; 2017 Tirreno-Adriatico stage 1 highlights; The Pioneer 2017 highlights.
Your Thursday Daily News Digest
Alaphilippe wins Paris-Nice time trial, takes over lead
by Mark Zalewski
Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors) utilised his climbing prowess to full advantage on the stage four time trial that finished with a tough uphill finish in Mont Brouilly, beating early leader Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) by 19 seconds and Tony Gallopin (Lotto FIXALL) to take over the race lead.
“It was just made for me with a climb at the end,” said Alaphilippe. “I was really focused this morning but I just knew I was going to try hard and do well.
“We are going to take the chances when they present themselves and try to hold the jersey, but the coming stages are tough.”
Alaphilippe now leads the overall ahead of Tony Gallopin (Lotto-FIXALL) by 33 seconds and Gorka Izagirre (Movistar) by 47 seconds.
Former race leader Arnaud Demare (FDJ) finished 1:41 down and dropped to tenth overall.
RT ParisNice: ?????? La Tornade alafpolak / Alaphilippe flies ??????quickstepteam #ParisNice pic.twitter.com/V0zfIE9BjN
— CycleBot (@TheCycleBot) March 8, 2017
Stage 4 (ITT): Beaujeu > Mont Brouilly - Stage Result
Wednesday 8th March 2017
| 1. |  |
ALAPHILIPPE Julian
Quick-Step Floors
|
00:21:39 |
| 2. |  |
CONTADOR Alberto
Trek - Segafredo
|
0:19 |
| 3. | |
GALLOPIN Tony
Lotto Soudal
|
0:20 |
Alaphilippe
Alaphilippe
Hardy
Alaphilippe
Alaphilippe
Quick-Step Floors