Jonas Vingegaard excelled in brutal conditions to take a stage win, and the race lead, at Paris-Nice though Irish rider Eddie Dunbar is out (Photo: Billy Ceusters)
Eddie Dunbar (Pinarello-Q36.5) has abandoned Paris-Nice just 24 hours after he clearly struggled in the TTT. He finished last of his team, on his own, and lost almost six minutes in just 23.5km of racing, which was clearly well off what he is capable off.
The Irishman bowed out of the ‘Race to the Sun’ as it was being run off in brutally wet, and cold, conditions. The field absolutely exploded on the 195km road to Uchon, with Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) seizing control, winning the day and also taking the yellow jersey.
Ireland’s Dunbar was out of the event before the action even began today as he was one of a small number of riders who did not take to the start line. His poor performance yesterday aside, it was not immediately clear why he withdrew.
Stickybottle has sought comment from his team and we will share an update when we have it.
Whatever the reason, his early exit is a setback for him as he is working his way towards the Giro d’Italia. However, he still has time to gather himself and hone his form for a shot at the GC, and stage wins, at the Italian Grand Tour in May.
Back to winning ways! 👏
Jonas Vingegaard wins a brutal Stage 4 of Paris–Nice, moving into the GC lead. pic.twitter.com/FhgO0Vg70o
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) March 11, 2026
Today in France, Vingegaard and race leader Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) were among a large group of riders to break clear in the crosswinds early in the stage. However, a crash took out Ayuso, as well as Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Iván Romeo (Movistar).
Though Ayuso tried to struggle on, in the lashing rain, after the crash with about 55km to go, he was forced out and looked in considerable pain has he stopped and lay on the ditch. McNulty was also forced out of the race after the same incident.
Up ahead, Vingegaard eventually found himself up the road with half the Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe team. And as the final 25km approached, the Dane had just three of the Red Bull riders for company; Dani Martínez, Tim van Dijke and Mick van Dijke.
💥 Chute dans le groupe de tête ! Parmi les coureurs tombés, Juan Ayuso tente de repartir mais il doit finalement mettre pied à terre. Le porteur du @MaillotjauneLCL abandonne la course.
Crash in the leading group! Among the riders involved, Juan Ayuso tries to get going again… pic.twitter.com/LCuHL2FxBN
— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 11, 2026
They were effectively the remains of the large front group that had pushed on with just 25km of the 195km stage to Uchon complete.
With two climbs in the final third of the stage – the cat 3 Côte de la Croix des Cerisiers and cat 2 Côte de la Croix de la Liberation – that front group was well and truly decimated by the time the four leaders reached the final 8km climb to the finish at Uchon.
With 1km to go, Vingegaard surged forward to drop the Red Bull riders. He won the stage by 41 seconds from Martínez. Tim van Dijke was 3rd at 45 seconds and Mick van Dijke 4th at 1:42.
Dunbar aside, Ireland’s only rider in the race, Ryan Mullen (NSN Cycling Team), got through the epic day, finishing 67th at 26:24 and lives to fight another day.