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'I don't know if I can be happ...

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'I don't know if I can be happy' | Schachmann reacts to unusual victory in Paris-Nice

98FM
98FM

06:18 14 Mar 2021


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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.

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.


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Cycling Maximilian Schachmann Paris-Nice Primoz Roglic Sam Bennett

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