“Not our best day as a team” - Jonas Vingegaard and Visma in damage control mode after Paris-Nice TTT time loss

Paris-Nice produced its first major shake-up of the general classification on Stage 3, with the team time trial forcing several of the race favourites to reassess their position in the fight for the yellow jersey.

For Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the day ultimately became one of limiting losses rather than gaining ground. The Dutch squad finished fourth in the 23.5-kilometre test between Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire and Pouilly-sur-Loire, stopping the clock in 26 minutes and 55 seconds after briefly holding the fastest provisional time.

As later teams reached the finish, that benchmark was surpassed by Decathlon CMA CGM Team, Lidl-Trek and eventual stage winners INEOS Grenadiers.

With the stage result finalised, Visma’s GC leader Jonas Vingegaard emerged from the day sitting 17 seconds behind new race leader Juan Ayuso. “Of course, we had hoped for more, but this is what it is,” Vingegaard said afterwards in a Visma press release.

The yellow and black formation started the stage as one of the teams expected to challenge strongly for victory. Vingegaard was supported by a powerful line-up of rouleurs and climbers, and the team’s time of 26:55 initially looked competitive enough to shape the afternoon.

In the end, however, three teams proved quicker. “It may not have been our best day as a team, but nevertheless, we rode a strong time,” Vingegaard reflected. “Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for the win.”

Visma’s effort still ensured that several key riders finished together on the same time, with Vingegaard joined by Davide Piganzoli and Bruno Armirail at the finish.

Despite missing out on the stage victory, the time differences across the general classification remain relatively tight after three days of racing.

Ayuso now leads the race, but the margins behind him remain measured in seconds rather than minutes, with several teams still holding multiple riders near the top of the standings.

“We would have preferred to have a lead, but the differences are not huge,” Vingegaard said. “We have a strong team and will do everything we can in the coming days to make up some time.”

The Dane also indicated that he remains confident about the days ahead. “I feel good, so I'm looking forward to the next days.”

For Visma’s management, the reaction to the result was similarly straightforward.

Sports director Marc Reef acknowledged that the team had aimed higher on the day but accepted the outcome. “As a team, we did everything we could to win the time trial. Unfortunately, we didn't succeed,” Reef said. “In the end, three teams were better. That's the honest story.”

With the team time trial now complete, attention turns to the next phase of the race, where more selective terrain is expected to play a larger role in shaping the overall standings. “Tomorrow, the next part of Paris-Nice starts with a difficult uphill finish,” Reef added.

After a day that reshaped the race hierarchy, Visma will now look to the climbing stages to begin closing the gap to the race lead.