Vence, Friday, March 9th 2018– Rudy Molard used his knowledge of the terrain to surge with 2 km to go and give France its fourth stage victory in this Paris-Nice in Vence on Friday. The Groupama-FDJ rider outwitted most of the leading contenders to clinch his first World Tour win, the second for his team after Arnaud Demare’s in stage 1 in Meudon. Molard upstaged Belgian Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) and fellow-Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step) while Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) finished fourth and retained his overall lead with a 25 seconds lead over Alaphilippe. Dutchman Wout Poels, second overall at the start, crashed in the final descent, harming Team Sky’s chances to win the Race to the Sun for the 6th time in seven years.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1. Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) in 4h40’05’’
2. Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) at 2’’
3. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) at 2’’
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Luis León Sanchez (Astana Pro Team) 22h25’33’’
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) at 22’’
3. Marc Soler (Movistar Team) at 26’’
