Paris-Nice 2025: Matteo Jorgenson Repeats as Overall Winner; Magnus Sheffield Takes Final Stage

Americans Matteo Jorgenson and Magnus Sheffield Shine in Paris-Nice Finale

NICE, France (16 March 2025) — The sun-drenched Promenade des Anglais in Nice saw American riders take center stage in a thrilling final day of the 83rd edition of the Paris-Nice. Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) claimed his first-ever World Tour victory in a dramatic Stage 8, while Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) sealed his second consecutive overall victory in the prestigious race.

The stage, often a mix of attacks and counterattacks, saw Sheffield emerge victorious after a relentless pursuit of Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), who was a constant presence at the front. Pedersen, who had attacked early and often, was caught and overtaken by Sheffield with just over 30 kilometers to go, as the American surged ahead to claim the win.

Jorgenson, though, was the rider with the biggest prize on the day. The 2024 champion’s second-place finish on the stage was enough to secure the overall win, further cementing his place among the greats of the race. He is now just the tenth rider in history to win Paris-Nice in back-to-back years, joining the likes of Jacques Anquetil, Sean Kelly, and Max Schachmann.

The day started with high drama as Pedersen wasted no time in making his presence known. The Danish sprinter attacked right from the flag drop, and his relentless efforts kept the peloton on edge. Alongside him, other notable attackers like Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla), Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor), and Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost) made the racing fast and furious. However, the pace proved too much for Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates), who was forced to abandon after being dropped early on.

As the riders tackled the climbs of Col de la Porte and Côte de Peille, Pedersen again made his move, pushing out ahead and briefly opening up a gap. Sheffield, though, was patient, waiting for the right moment to strike. The pivotal moment came on the descent, when the American bridged up to a front trio, including Pedersen, Felix Gall (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale), and Aleks Vlasov (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). From there, it was a battle of strength and strategy, with Jorgenson keeping the pressure on as the group approached the final climb.

The final ascent of Col des Quatre Chemins, with its steep 16% gradients, proved to be the stage’s defining moment. Sheffield made a decisive move with 12.5 kilometers remaining, leaving Jorgenson and Gall behind as he powered towards the summit. By the time Sheffield reached the top, he had a 20-second advantage over Jorgenson, which proved insurmountable in the final stretch.

As Sheffield surged to victory in Nice, Jorgenson’s consistent performance throughout the week earned him the overall victory, wrapping up a stunning defense of his title.

Magnus Sheffield: “You Can Never Give Up”

“It’s unbelievable,” said Sheffield after his victory. “I’ve been second so many times, and this is my first World Tour win. It means so much. Cycling is so hard, and it took a lot of perseverance. The team believed in me, and we executed our plan well today. I knew I had to use the other riders to my advantage, and it paid off.”

Matteo Jorgenson: “Two in a Row – Incredible!”

Jorgenson, who was visibly relieved after crossing the line, reflected on his achievement. “There’s so much stress lifted off my shoulders now. I’ve been thinking about this for months, and to have it work out is incredible. I couldn’t have done it without my team, they supported me every step of the way. It feels amazing to win Paris-Nice two years in a row. And it was cool to race against Magnus – we’ve been teammates before, and seeing him win today was really special.”

The race’s best young rider, Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), finished in fourth overall, while Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) completed the podium in third place.

With the conclusion of Paris-Nice, Jorgenson’s back-to-back triumph has solidified his status as one of cycling’s brightest stars, while Sheffield’s first World Tour win sets the stage for more success in the future. As the riders look ahead, the American dominance in Paris-Nice shows no signs of slowing down.

Stage-by-Stage

Stage 1: Merlier’s Victory

Tim Merlier won the first stage of Paris-Nice 2025, showcasing his sprinting prowess and becoming the first leader of the race. He was followed by Arnaud Démare and Alberto Dainese on the podium. The defending champion, Matteo Jorgenson, also made a strong start by claiming time bonuses in the finale.

Stage 2: Merlier’s Back-to-Back Wins

Merlier continued his dominance by winning the second stage, securing his sixth win of the year. He outpaced Émilien Jeannière and Hugo Pageto retain the yellow and white jersey. The stage was marked by early breakaways and a crash involving Merlier and Démare, though both quickly recovered.

Stage 3: Jorgenson Takes the Lead

In the team time trial of stage 3, Matteo Jorgenson and his team, Visma-Lease a Bike, delivered a strong performance, propelling him to the top of the overall standings. Jayco AlUlaand Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe completed the podium for the day.

Stage 4: Almeida’s Climbing Prowess

Joao Almeida triumphed in stage 4, overtaking Jonas Vingegaard in the final meters of the climb to La Loge des Gardes. The stage saw challenging weather conditions and a temporary race neutralization. Vingegaard took over the yellow and white jersey from Jorgenson.

Stage 5: Martinez’s Breakthrough

Lenny Martinez won stage 5 with a powerful finish on the steep ascents to La Côte-Saint-André. Matteo Jorgenson regained the overall lead, while Jonas Vingegaard struggled after an early crash.

Stage 6: Pedersen’s Echelon Mastery

Mads Pedersen emerged victorious in stage 6, which was characterized by echelons and strong winds. He led a 17-man group to the finish, with Joao Almeida losing significant time and Lenny Martinez dropping out of contention.

Stage 7: Storer’s Climbing Victory

Michael Storer claimed the win in stage 7 with a strong performance in a breakaway group. The stage saw Florian Lipowitz gaining time on Jorgenson, who retained the yellow and white jersey. Mattias Skjelmose crashed out of the race.

Stage 8: Jorgenson’s Overall Triumph

The final stage featured numerous attacks, with Magnus Sheffield winning the stage and Matteo Jorgenson securing his second consecutive overall victory in Paris-Nice. The stage was marked by aggressive racing from Mads Pedersen and strategic moves by Jorgenson to maintain his lead 13 14.

Matteo Jorgenson became the tenth rider to win back-to-back editions of the race, with Florian Lipowitz finishing second overall and winning the best young rider standings, and Thymen Arensman completing the podium.

Final General Classification