INEOS Grenadiers leaders explain strategy for rest of Paris–Nice after TTT win

Vauquelin was the first INEOS rider across the line on home soil. He said: “It’s a really big win with the team because the team has improved a lot in the TTs and we’ve worked a lot throughout the winter. With wins in Tirreno yesterday, and in Algarve, and now in Paris-Nice, I’m really proud of us and it’s really good.”

He added: “The plan was to go fast and in the finish, I know I’m good at the final kilometres, so I pushed full gas to make up every second, which was good because it was only two seconds!” That was a reference to the tiny winning margin over Lidl-Trek in the 23.5-kilometre test around Pouilly-sur-Loire.

Onley crossed the line shortly after his teammate and fellow new signing. The Scot explained that the team time trial is a major point of emphasis for INEOS this season, with events such as the Tour de France also featuring a team test against the clock. He said: “Obviously the team time trial is an important factor in a lot of the big races this year so we’ve really put a big emphasis on it. Today shows all the work that the team, not just here but everyone in the team, has put towards this. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that no one sees so it’s really nice to be able to finish it off for them as well.”

Onley then detailed how the finale unfolded for INEOS. “We wanted to try and come over the final climb with four guys. In the end, there was the three of us and I was just hanging on on that downhill to the line. Everyone put in a really good shift right from the start. We had a bit of a scare in the recon this morning, we had a crash, so we found the limits this morning. It was nice to be able to bounce back from that as well.”

So how do INEOS Grenadiers now approach the remainder of Paris–Nice? Onley believes flexibility could be decisive in this edition of the race. “Paris-Nice is a different type of climbing race compared to some of the other races during the year. I don’t think it’s just on legs, especially with the parcours this year, there can be quite a few opportunities, and the weather plays a big factor in these stages, so it’s always better to have options up there with these harder days.”

That leaves INEOS in a strong tactical position. After stage 3, Vauquelin and Onley sat second and third overall, just two and three seconds behind new race leader Juan Ayuso respectively, while Carlos Rodríguez was already out of overall contention after losing time following his crash on the opening day.