Aurélien Paret-Peintre
"My best result on Tour World Tour
"It's a great performance, my best result in the mountains in Tour UCI World Tour. I have nothing to be ashamed of. It bodes well for the rest of Paris-Nice. I felt really good all day. My teammates did a great job. Mikaël (Cherel) pushed hard on the climb and put me in a good position. I managed to break away from the chasing group on the flat section at the end. I'm really happy with this fourth place. Now, the goal will be to climb up the general classification to secure another top 10 finish. We know that Saturday's stage will basically be a hill climb to the Col de la Couillole, but Friday and Sunday could offer more opportunities. It would also be nice to get a stage win before the end of Paris-Nice."
Vincent Lavenu
"This bodes well for the future.
"We knew Aurélien had strong legs. Thinking he could finish fourth today was a bold move, but it proves he's in great shape. He worked hard. This puts him back in contention overall and bodes well for the rest of Paris-Nice. We decided to put someone at the front if a group of four or five riders . Larry (Warbasse) played his cards right. Behind him, the team did a great job for our leader. It's a great day for the AG2R CITROËN team."
The news
News about injured riders the AG2R CITROËN team
Serge Niamke, Doctor the AG2R CITROËN team, provides an update on riders AG2R CITROËN riders are currently recovering from injury.
After falling during the second stage of Tour Alpes Maritimes et du Var, Franck Bonnamour underwent further tests which revealed a fracture in his right foot. The Breton rider from the AG2R CITROËN team will be out of action for four weeks. He will undergo a check-up at the end of March to decide whether or not he can resume training.
Nicolas Prodhomme, who underwent surgery on February 1 for a broken right collarbone after a fall during the Grand Prix Cycliste La Marseillaise, has resumed training. The rider is participating in the AG2R CITROËN team training camp from March 6 to 11 on the Costa Brava (Spain). He is expected to return to competition after the camp.
Antoine Raugel underwent surgery on the iliac artery in his left leg on January 3 and is now back on the bike. Also in training from March 6 to 11 on the Costa Brava (Spain) with the AG2R CITROËN team, the Alsatian should resume racing in April.
Suffering from a tendinitis of the left knee since January, Marc Sarreau has resumed training. The date of his return to competition is not yet determined.
Damien Touzé, victim of a fall during Le Samyn, suffered a trauma with a contusion of the left knee requiring functional physiotherapy for 15 days. He should resume competition at the Grand Prix de Denain (March 16).
16
Key number
Ben O'Connor is 16th overall after the first three stages of Tirreno - Adriatico.
"It wasn't necessarily a stage for me today with the side wind at the end but I was able to respond by being in the first group. Even if everything went back to normal and there was no difference, it's always better to be in front than behind.
That start of the Tirreno - Adriatico was very nervous, you had to be lucky. I hope that when it gets a little more hilly over the next three days, it will be a little less stressful and I'll be able to get some good results," said O'Connor.
Victim of digestive problems since Tuesday evening with an inability to eat, Valentin Paret-Peintre was forced to abandon the 3rd stage of Tirreno - Adriatico.
