Paris-Nice finishes early as nations scale back events and close borders

The Race to the Sun finished early, marking the last racing for at least a month in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, writes James Shrubsall

- James Shurbsall

The early finish to Paris-Nice on Saturday left riders scrambling for first flights home and at a loss as how to train. Following days of empty start and finish areas and enhanced hygiene protocols, the eight-day WorldTour stage race made the decision last Friday not to run the final stage.

German rider Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) was the overall race winner. He held the yellow jersey from start to finish after winning the first stage and then underlining his dominance by coming second in the mid-race time trial.

The final stage was won by a resurgent Nairo Quintana, who maintained the winning streak he seems to have found since moving to ProTeam Arkéa-Samsic.

Fellow Arkéa rider and former GB national road champion Connor Swift, who helped protect the Colombian in France, described existing in a bubble while on the race, which was resoundingly burst when it finished.

“During the race you get into kind of a routine – wake up, eat, travel to the race, do the race, get back, massage… and when you’re in that routine you kind of forget all about it,” he explained.