Jonas Vingegaard Dominates Paris-Nice with Historic Winning Margin
Two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard secured a resounding victory at the 2026 Paris-Nice race, achieving the largest winning margin since 1939. The Visma-Lease a Bike leader demonstrated exceptional form, signaling his strength as he prepares for a potential attempt to win all three Grand Tours this year.
Vingegaard’s Dominant Performance
Vingegaard finished second on the final stage, Sunday’s race, behind Bahrain Victorious’ Lenny Martinez, who was the only rider able to match Vingegaard’s attack approximately 20 kilometers from the finish line. Martinez and Vingegaard collaborated until the final kilometer, with Martinez ultimately winning the stage sprint.
Despite Martinez’s stage win, Vingegaard’s overall lead extended to an impressive 4 minutes and 23 seconds over Dani Martinez of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Organizers confirmed this is the fourth-largest winning margin in the history of the race ESPN.
A Clean Sweep of Jerseys
Vingegaard’s performance wasn’t limited to the general classification. He also secured the best climber’s polka-dot jersey and the best sprinter’s green jersey, showcasing his versatility throughout the week-long race. Georg Steinhauser of EF Education-EasyPost completed the overall podium.
Preparation for Grand Tour Season
This victory comes after Vingegaard crashed out of Paris-Nice last year. His dominant breakaway victory on the hilly fifth stage highlighted his strong climbing ability. Outside Online reports that Vingegaard sent a clear message to rivals like Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel with his performance.
Vingegaard is now setting his sights on the Giro d’Italia in May, aiming to add another Grand Tour title to his collection after winning the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023, and the Spanish Vuelta last year. AP News
Looking Ahead
With the Tour de France starting on July 4th, Vingegaard’s performance at Paris-Nice demonstrates he is a strong contender. He has been working to improve his climbing, particularly in response to past challenges from Tadej Pogačar.