German Maximilian Schachmann won the Paris-Nice on Sunday afternoon in dramatic fashion.
Magnus Cort of Denmark won the final stage where leader Primoz Roglic, who had dominated the week-long event, crashed with about 20km to go and finished several minutes down.
31-year-old Roglic had won three stages in this year's race to bring almost a minute lead into the final day.
Schachmann inherited overall victory though by 19 seconds over Aleksandr Vlasov with Roglic finishing up down in 15th, two minutes 16 seconds behind.
🏆 Le podium de #ParisNice 2021 :
🥇🇩🇪@MaxSchachmann (@BORAhansgrohe)
🥈🇷🇺@ale_vlasov (@AstanaPremTech)
🥉🇪🇸Ion Izagirre (@AstanaPremTech)👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/4YKtfRQ6Ab
— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 14, 2021
Reacting to the victory and the strange circumstances behind it, Schachmann had mixed emotions.
"It was a crazy day. I have mixed feelings because Roglic crashed, he also crashed twice.
"I don’t know if it was his mistake. But I had a puncture before the first climb and I had to go deep to go back and nobody waited for me.
"Then Roglic crashed and we waited and suddenly he crashed again and there was a break ahead and we were going for the victory of the day.
"I don’t know if I can be happy, it’s not nice to win like that. It’s very difficult.
"Anyway it’s great. It was a goal to do it again and suddenly I’m on the podium again even if it’s a different scenario from last year.
"I don’t know what to say. I was improving. I came here from a training camp and I was feeling tired and I got better despite a cold.
"The team did a great job, I’m very proud of them. We’re going to enjoy it now."
Carrick-On-Suir native Sam Bennett finished 38th on Sunday and 79th in General Classification.
He enjoyed two stage wins over the week as well as a close chase for a third.
