Zingle ninth in opening stage of Paris–Nice, Vingegaard has a good start of his season

# Vingegaard’s Season Debut Shines Despite Zingle’s Ninth in Paris–Nice Opener

The 84th edition of Paris–Nice kicked off in Achères, presenting riders with a challenging 170-kilometer stage featuring a hilly finale. The spotlight was predominantly on Jonas Vingegaard, who was making his season debut. The 29-year-old Dane had the support of teammates Edoardo Affini, Bruno Armirail, Victor Campenaerts, Wilco Kelderman, Davide Piganzoli, and Axel Zingle throughout the race.

Early in the race, a breakaway group of six riders formed, but their lead was quickly contained by the main peloton. They never managed to extend their advantage beyond two minutes. As the stage progressed, a flurry of short climbs tested the riders’ endurance, eventually leading to a dramatic finish that culminated in a bunch sprint for the coveted yellow jersey.

Axel Zingle, who was strategically positioned for a strong sprint, faced a setback when he got boxed in at a pivotal moment. Consequently, he finished ninth, unable to capitalize on his favorable position. “I was perfectly positioned, but I missed the momentum to launch,” Zingle reflected post-race. “Looking back, I waited a little too long, which meant I was overruled by riders coming from behind. It’s a pity because there was a huge opportunity here for me and the team.”

Sports director Marc Reef also offered his thoughts: “We can be satisfied that everyone reached the finish safely. It was a hectic stage. At times it was difficult to stay together as a team. Jonas was very well supported throughout the day by Edoardo and Victor. In the final kilometers, we took responsibility to close the gap to the breakaway. We had a chance to go for the win with Axel while also ensuring Jonas stayed safely near the front. It’s unfortunate that Axel couldn’t execute the sprint we had in mind.”

### Stage 1 Results
1. Luke Lamperti (EF Education – EasyPost) – 03:45:17
2. Vito Braet (Lotto Intermarché) – +00:00:00
3. Orluis Aular (Movistar Team) – +00:00:00
9. Axel Zingle (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:00
54. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:00
88. Wilco Kelderman (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:00

As the race progresses, Vingegaard’s potential as a leading contender is still very much alive, despite Sunday’s challenges for Zingle and the team. All eyes will remain on Team Visma | Lease a Bike as they continue through this prestigious week of racing.