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Hello, Velo!
This week was riddled with crashes and horrid weather at both Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. From Jonathan Milan’s crash in Italy to Jonas Vingegaard’s spill in France, the vibes were not high this week. To top it off, we unfortunately never saw The Mid South gravel race take off as it was canceled due to more unexpected circumstances.
The conditions were less than ideal last week and we saw Vingegaard abandon Paris- Nice early due to a hand contusion. Even the race motorcycles were not safe as one took a tumble on the slick streets of the Paris-Nice course.
Frigid conditions
EF Pro cycling riders took matters in their own hands to stay warm while Paris-Nice was neutralized on Wednesday
Cycling life hack: If you’re cold, find a moto driver
: Sprint Cycling#ParisNice2025 pic.twitter.com/8Rl97kV9OI
— EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) March 12, 2025
Race to the sun
We were certainly not jealous of these riders braving the stormy conditions. However, the sun did finally come out on the final stage as we saw Matteo Jorgenson clinch his second Paris-Nice title. His compatriot, 22-year old Magnus Sheffield, won the stage and got his first WorldTour win. He shared in a teary interview just how special it was.
Cycling is such a compelling sport. When wins can feel impossible to come by, the athletes often show their unfiltered and emotional side when their efforts finally pay off.
Sunshine in the rain
With cycling being a more accessible sport than most, moments like this can happen. Lidl Trek rider Edward Theuns’ child got the memory of a lifetime during one of the team presentations at Tirenno- Adriatico.
This little fan got to see up close his favorite team in the peloton, while rocking some iconic colors.
The warmest welcome for eventual Tirreno-Adriatico winner Juan Ayuso from his furry companion.
Wildfire relief efforts continue
Wildfires erupted in Oklahoma on Friday amid high winds, forcing the The Mid South race to be canceled. The community has been rallying all weekend to support unmet needs of individuals impacted by the wildfires. The race organization has set up a way to donate directly to families and agencies involved in the wildfire recovery.
Say it louder, Tadej
Tadej Pogačar reminded the media last week that he was not the first world champion to win Strade Bianche. In fact Lotte Kopecky won just last year.
Similar to when British tennis legend Andy Murray famously corrected a reporter who claimed the first US player to reach a major semi-final since 2009 was a male player. Meanwhile American women’s singles players Serena Williams, Madison Keys, CoCo Vandeweghe and Venus Williams had all reached a grand slam semi-final between 2009 and 2017.
Shoutout to Pogi for remaining humble and giving credit where credit was due.
PFP rolls out of crash like a boss
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot recovered so well from this spill that she eventually landed on the podium at Strade Bianche.
That’s all this week from the Social Digest.
