In Cycling's Early Season Showcase, Champions Emerge on European Roads

Two of cycling’s most anticipated early-season events delivered drama and revelation last week, as riders battled through the challenging terrain of France and Italy’s iconic races, establishing hierarchies that may well forecast the sport’s competitive landscape for months to come.

Paris-Nice: American Triumph Amid French Spring

In a watershed moment for American cycling, Matteo Jorgenson emerged as the overall victor of the 2025 Paris-Nice, the prestigious eight-day stage race known as “The Race to the Sun.” The event, which traces a path from the French capital to the Mediterranean coast, serves as an early-season proving ground for Grand Tour contenders.

The race began with Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier asserting dominance in the opening stages, claiming consecutive victories in Stages 1 and 2, outpacing French favorite Arnaud Démare in sprint finishes that showcased the high-velocity chess match that defines bunch sprints.

The complexion of the race shifted dramatically during the team time trial, where Jorgenson’s Visma-Lease a Bike squad delivered a commanding performance that propelled the American into the coveted yellow jersey. This tactical discipline, requiring perfect synchronization among teammates, demonstrated why the Dutch outfit remains one of cycling’s most formidable collective forces.

The mountain stages revealed the true contenders, with Portugal’s João Almeida claiming Stage 4 in a performance that saw Danish star Jonas Vingegaard surrender the leader’s jersey. Vingegaard, winner of multiple Tours de France, encountered further difficulties after a crash, highlighting the unpredictable nature of early-season racing when form is still developing.

Colombian climber Daniel Martínez capitalized on the challenging terrain of Stage 5, while Danish powerhouse Mads Pedersen navigated the chaos of echelons—the diagonal formations created when crosswinds split the peloton—to claim Stage 6.

The penultimate stage featured the additional challenge of snow, with Australian Michael Storer prevailing while Danish contender Mattias Skjelmose saw his hopes literally crash to the ground. The race concluded with American Magnus Sheffield winning the final stage, but it was Jorgenson who secured the overall classification, marking a significant milestone in his ascending career.

Throughout the race, several narratives emerged beyond the results sheet. Vingegaard’s resilience despite setbacks offered glimpses of the champion’s mentality that has earned him Tour de France victories. Meanwhile, Dutch rider Thymen Arensman’s steady climb up the standings reflected a thoughtful approach to racing, inspired by his compatriot and former champion Tom Dumoulin.

Strade Bianche: Dusty Roads Crown Cycling Royalty

While Paris-Nice unfolded over a week, Italy’s Strade Bianche compressed equal drama into a single day of racing across Tuscany’s iconic white gravel roads—the “strade bianche” that give the race its name.

In the men’s event, Slovenian phenomenon Tadej Pogacar demonstrated why many consider him the sport’s most complete talent. Despite sliding on a sandy corner and crashing into a roadside ditch, Pogacar recovered with remarkable composure to claim his third victory in this increasingly prestigious one-day classic.

The race’s difficulty was perhaps best captured by British rider Tom Pidcock, who finished second and later expressed astonishment at Pogacar’s physiological capabilities. Pidcock’s comments reflected the sentiment throughout the peloton that Pogacar’s abilities transcend conventional understanding of human performance.

Belgian rider Florian Vermeersch, who rode in support of Pogacar, offered insight into the champion’s technique, noting the fluidity and efficiency with which he applies power to the pedals—a technical mastery that complements his raw physiological gifts.

The women’s race provided equally compelling theater, with Dutch riders Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen engaging in a tactical duel through the final kilometers. Vollering ultimately prevailed against van der Breggen, a former world champion whose tactical acumen and experience make her a formidable opponent even as her career advances.

Dutch cyclocross and mountain bike specialist Puck Pieterse demonstrated her versatility with a seventh-place finish, though she acknowledged the gap between her current capabilities and those required to challenge a rider of Vollering’s caliber.

The race’s challenging conditions were summarized by veteran Dutch rider Bauke Mollema, who noted the juxtaposition of beautiful Tuscan scenery with the inherent risks of racing at high speeds across loose gravel surfaces. Belgian climber Lennert van Eetvelt offered tactical insight, acknowledging the futility of attempting to match Pogacar’s accelerations—a lesson many riders have learned at considerable cost to their results.

The Season Takes Shape

These early-season contests serve multiple purposes in cycling’s complex ecosystem. For some riders, they represent primary objectives in themselves; for others, they function as stepping stones toward peak condition for Grand Tours like May’s Giro d’Italia and July’s Tour de France.

Jorgenson’s Paris-Nice victory establishes the American as a legitimate stage-race contender, while Pogacar’s dominance at Strade Bianche reinforces his status as the sport’s most versatile talent. Vollering’s triumph confirms her position at the pinnacle of women’s cycling.

As the season progresses toward its most prestigious events, these early contests provide valuable indicators of form and hierarchy. They also demonstrate cycling’s unique capacity to combine individual brilliance with team strategy, all against backdrops of stunning European landscapes that have hosted the sport for generations.

For cycling enthusiasts, these races offer not merely results but narratives that will evolve throughout a season where established champions and emerging talents contest the sport’s most coveted prizes across continents and terrains.