Results Paris-Nice 2026 | CHAOS on queen stage: Jonas Vingegaard wins and takes yellow as Juan Ayuso crashes out

The action that lacked over the opening days of Paris-Nice was all unleashed this Wednesday afternoon, as the weather, luck and short explosive climbs led to all kinds of chaos and drama in the French race. Stage 4 of the French race saw Juan Ayuso crash and abandon, the race completely destroyed before the riders got to the first climb due to heavy winds and rain; and Jonas Vingegaard take the stage win on a steep summit finish which saw him jump into the race lead.

Whilst at Tirreno-Adriatico the sprinters had a day to battle it out, in the 'Race to the Sun' the riders found a day where only the final climb was expected to deliver differences. But this was not the case. Right from the opening kilometers the peloton split fully in the crosswinds out of Bourges. About 35 riders were represented, with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe having the most at five; Visma having only Edoardo Affini together with Jonas Vingegaard; and riders such as Kévin Vauquelin and Lenny Martínez missing out on the first split.

Oscar Onley also crashed from the front group later on, and then suffering a mechanical which had him chasing the small peloton out front that rolled at a very high average speed. But the race changed completely with 47 kilometers to go as Lidl-Trek suffered absolute disaster: Juan Ayuso crashed. The yellow jersey got back on the bike but seconds later dismounted once again, and abandoned the race in pain. Several other riders abandoned throughout the day due to crashes and the difficult weather conditions which included strong wind and rain simultaneously, which would lead to massive gaps.

The Ayuso crash split the race further as BORA already had their men leading the front group, and simply maintained a high pace with their five men, only to be followed by Jonas Vingegaard and Mathias Vacek. The Czech rider would struggle on then however as the riders entered the hilly section of the stage. Callum Thornley, Nico Denz, Tim and Mick van Dijke all worked for Martínez throughout the final hour of racing leading up to the final climb on the Signal d'Uchon. Whilst 7 kilometers in length, the final 1.8 kilometers averaged 10% and this would be the location where the fight for the stage win would take place, with only Tim van Dijke leading up Martínez and Vingegaard into the base of the hilltop finish.

Behind, Georg Steinhauser was just over 2 minutes behind whilst around 4 minutes behind was a group containing Kévin Vauquelin, Lenny Martínez, David Gaudu, Marc Soler and surprisingly Jensen Plowright was the first chasing group. Behind, absolute chaos as the race was split into minor groups.

Jonas Vingegaard waited for the final climb to make his move and attacked under the 1 kilometer to go banner. Martínez had no response for the Dane's move, and the gap began to grow quickly. 41 seconds was the gap to Martínez who was second; whilst Tim van Dijke rode to third on the day.