Quotes
Stage 7
37| Maximilian SCHACHMANN
Schachmann: “My most important win”
It was very, very hard. I think you saw Konrad, and Schwarzmann and Grosschartner controlled the race for me but it was really hard at the finish. The last three kilometres were a walk through hell, through pain. Now it’s like being in heaven and it erases all the pain in my legs. It’s not my first success but the biggest so far and the most important because a whole lot of people doubted that I could be a GC rider. Now I won the most prestigious one-week race.
Stage 7
11| Nairo QUINTANA
Quintana: ”A gift for the team”
I always try to win stages with some elegance. The team worked a lot to make it back on the break and then I did what I had to do. There was nothing I could do for the GC. I crashed badly and l lost too much time that day. Day after day I finished with the best and I wanted to win before the race ended to bring a little joy to this team and this is a gift for the whole team for the job done. Now I’m going to go back to Colombia to stay with my family.
Stage 6
37| Maximilian SCHACHMANN
Schachmann: “Definitely not finished”
The race was full on and I did not see the bend. It was really crazy. I had a little gap, I came back a bit too fast and I made a mistake. It’s definitely not finished but I feel good. Tomorrow we’ll probably ride a bit different.
Stage 6
93| Tiesj BENOOT
Benoot: “Deserved I think”
With the legs I had, it’s a shame the race does not go to Nice but I’m happy all the same as I could win this stage. Tomorrow I hope to be able to go on like this. I like the days when you have to push all day and it was a day like this. We had a great preparation for the classics and it’s a shame we cannot ride them. The team have been good all week and all my team-mates played a part in the victory today. It’s really good to be able to win a second stage after the one Soren won in the time trial. It’s deserved I think. I don’t know what...
Stage 5
37| Maximilian SCHACHMANN
Schachmann: “A really hard day”
We expected an easier day but it was a really hard day, especially the last 70 or 60 km because the breakaway was so strong and we had to work hard to catch them. It was hard for everybody. I presume Sergio from EF Pro Cycling is still my main competitor because he’s an excellent climber and he’s the closest at the moment. He should be my main competitor in the next days and the one I need to keep an eye on. There are a few other good climbers but they are further away so I’m going to focus on him.
Stage 5
112| Niccolò BONIFAZIO
Bonifazio: “A small gift for Italy”
For the team, it was an important day. Paris-Nice is an important objective in the season and I worked very hard in the winter. I only rode eight races and I was missing a little beat of racing pace in the first stages here but today I felt very well and I looked for a good positioning. I started my sprint with 100 m to go and I won. Thanks for the team and for everyone. It’s a small gift for my family and all the Italians who are confined to their homes.
Stage 4
37| Maximilian SCHACHMANN
Schachmann: "I think there's a chance"
I wanted to make it better than in Algarve two weeks ago (4th). I went just full gas in the climbs. I think Soren Kragh was super fast but I came close so I’m happy. You can expect a fight until the end. I will fight as much as possible to defend the jersey. I already checked the climbs and I know what to expect. Its’ going to be hard but I think there’s a chance.
Stage 4
98| Søren KRAGH ANDERSEN
This was my chance
I’m super happy. Its’ a big relief to finally have my time trial victory. I’m really happy. I almost can’t believe it. I was aiming for it and the legs were good again. I don’t really like the straight lines. I want some hills, and tempo shifts so this was super cool for me. I’m here to help the team and to help Tiesj Benoot day by day. We will be looking for stage results and a good GC with Benoot. I’m here to help him. This was my chance. I’m happy I got it.
Stage 3
84| Ivan GARCIA CORTINA
Ivan Garcia Cortina: “I really like these conditions”
It’s amazing. It’s a race I really like so it’s a nice victory. I was surprised to beat Peter Sagan. I managed to find the right place to go. I went full gas. I suffered in the rain like everybody else. But I really like these conditions. Hopefully, it’ll go on.
Stage 3
37| Maximilian SCHACHMANN
Maximilian Schachmann: “Tomorrow is the next challenge”
The last 19 kilometres were really difficult, just to secure the position in the front. Everybody was ready for a big crosswind action but it actually took place in the last eight kilometres. In the end there were a few bad crashes. I hope nobody is injured. In the end I made it. I showed in the past I could ride good time trials. I want to defend this beautiful jersey. I’m going to try my best. Tomorrow is the next challenge. I’m going to give my best and then there are two hilly mountain stages. They will be the big showdown.
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