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Frenchman Martinez climbs to Paris-Nice fifth stage win / Photo: © AFP
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Frenchman Martinez climbs to Paris-Nice fifth stage win
French rider Lenny Martinez sprinted to an impressive uphill victory in the fifth stage of the Paris-Nice race on Thursday with Dane Jonas Vingegaard losing the overall lead after a fall.
Martinez pulled away in the closing metres to finish three seconds ahead of compatriot Clement Champoussin and American Matteo Jorgenson after the hilly 203.3km ride from Saint-Just-en-Chevalet to La Cote Saint-Andre.
Jorgenson takes the overall race lead from Visma teammate Vingegaard who dropped to second, 22 seconds off the pace after a tough day in the saddle.
Vingegaard tumbled on the Treves climb midway through the stage as he was leading heading towards the finish line in the Isere region in southeastern France.
After a visit to the medical car, he quickly returned to the peloton -- but with blood pouring from his cut lip -- to finish 16th, nearly half a minute off the pace.
The two-time Tour de France winner had criticised the race organisers' decision the day before to restart the fourth stage after it was neutralised due to a violent hailstorm. He had finished second in the stage on Wednesday to take the leader's yellow jersey.
It was the seventh career win for 21-year-old Martinez and first at World Tour level.
He outpaced Jorgenson at the top of a gruelling 1.7km final climb with an 11.1 percent gradient to move up to fifth overall, 55sec behind the leader.
P.Thomas--SFF
