Speaking of Pogacar, the performance of UAE Team Emirates - XRG in the absence of their superstar leader left much to be desired in the opinion of York, a three-time top-10 GC finisher at Paris-Nice in her own right. "UAE's team selection at Paris-Nice lacked cohesion," York evaluates. "Almeida was inconsistent and
Brandon McNulty wasn’t at the expected level. Poor weather might be their excuse, however, in the absence of Pogacar, they lacked the clarity and quality needed to beat Visma."
"Team Visma | Lease a Bike were again the dominant force at the Race to the Sun, led by Nice local Jorgenson, who claimed their third title in four years at one of the most prestigious one-week races on the calendar," York concludes. "He's some way off of Sean Kelly's tally of seven GC wins at Paris-Nice but Jorgenson proved again that he is perfectly suited to the trials and tribulations that present themselves on the route south from France's capital."