On the final day of the tour, Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) proved to be stronger than during the rest of the week. Although the 25-year-old was on his own early on, as all of his team-mates lost contact with the leading group on the first climb, Jorgenson always stayed on top of the action, parried all attacks from Lipowitz and Co. and then went on the offensive himself before the Col d'Èze, the penultimate climb of the day.

His rivals were unable to follow his advance. Only Sheffield, who had already broken away from the group of favourites, was unable to catch up with Jorgenson. However, this made no difference to the American double victory on stage 8. While the 25-year-old Jorgenson celebrated his fifth victory as a professional, it was only the fourth for Sheffield, who is three years younger, and his first on the WorldTour. In the winner's interview, the Ineos pro was highly emotional and had to fight back tears time and again. "It's just unbelievable. I've been second so many times. And now it's finally been enough. That means so much to me. It's so hard to win in cycling, no matter what race. The team always believed in me, even in the tough times, and the same goes for my family."

Jorgenson one of the rare title defenders at Paris-Nice

Jorgenson, on the other hand, took his victory almost calmly, although he explained: "This is a big relief after all the stress. I've been thinking about this week for four months. It's nice to have done it. I did everything I could and it worked out." Jorgenson was considered a surprise winner when he won a year ago - and in some respects he is a surprise winner this time too. At least considering the competition, including from his own camp. However, the biggest name in Jonas Vingegaard had to retire due to injury, and Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates - XRG), another favourite, was unable to cope with the difficult wet and cold conditions.

What's more, title defences in the "long-distance ride to the sun" are rare. This is only the third time this millennium that it has worked. Previously, only Alexandre Vinokourov (2003) and Maximilian Schachmann (2021) managed it. In the 83-year history of the race, there have only ever been 15 riders who have won more than once, including record winner Sean Kelly with seven titles - all in a row.

Strong Lipowitz defends the white jersey, Pedersen in green after a hilarious ride

For Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe), second place in the overall standings, which also means the white jersey of the best young professional, is also the greatest success of his career. So far, the career changer, who originally comes from the biathlon, has finished third overall at the Tour de Romandie and seventh at the Vuelta Espana last year. In contrast to then, this time the 24-year-old started the race as (at least) co-leader and was therefore under pressure to achieve a result. Lipowitz mastered this situation seemingly without any problems.

While there were no changes to the holders of the yellow and white jerseys on the final day, the same was true for the other two individual classifications. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) defended his green jersey with another hussar ride through the mountains, which saw him in the lead until the final climb. The mountain jersey also remains on the shoulders of Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) in the final classification, even without scoring any more points on the stage.

Paris-Nice - Results of stage 8 and final standings

>> Paris-Nice 2025: route, start list, TV coverage

>> Paris-Nice 2025: All results at a glance

How the 8th stage of Paris-Nice 2025 went

Just in time for the end of the tour, the weather no longer made negative headlines. At the start of the final stages in Nice in the early afternoon, the sun was shining and it was 15 degrees - a welcome change from the snow, rain and single-digit temperatures of the previous week. Nevertheless, the conditions of the last few days had taken their toll. Brandon McNulty (UAE Emirates - XRG), seventh in the overall standings, was no longer able to follow the peloton after less than 20 kilometres, as were Adrien Petit (Intermarché - Wanty) and Max Walker (EF Education - EasyPost), and subsequently abandoned.

At the front end of the peloton, it was Pedersen in particular who tried to initiate an escape group in the first few kilometres. After several unsuccessful attempts, in which Ben O'Connor (Team Jayco AlUla) and Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), among others, also took part, they were all unsuccessful at first. In another attack, Pedersen took Georg Steinhauser (EF Education - EasyPost) and Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Emirates - XRG) with him. However, the group was unable to carve out a large lead and Pedersen was caught as a soloist shortly before the Col de la Porte (1st category).

Pedersen unstoppable

However, the Dane was only caught by a group of around 30 riders around Jorgenson, who was the only Visma pro in the new leading group, while Ineos Grenadiers in particular was again strongly represented. The Brits led the peloton over the summit before Pedersen attacked again on the descent and was able to open up a lead of more than a minute for the first time.

The attacks on Jorgenson then began in the Côte de Peille (1st category). Lipowitz in particular put the pressure on several times, but the yellow rider was able to parry all the attacks. Meanwhile, his team-mate Aleksandr Vlasov and Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) had bridged the small gap to Pedersen. The trio made it over the crest with a 20-second lead and gained a few more seconds on the downhill, which they took with them into the uncategorised Col d'Èze, which had a sprint classification. Pedersen collected the points there.

Meanwhile, Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) had also broken away on the descent and had closed the gap to Pedersen by the Èze. The duo left Vlasov and Gall behind in the uphill sprint. However, Jorgenson, who had taken advantage of a drowsy moment from Lipowitz and the group to break away, had also joined them at this point.

Sheffield keeps Jorgenson at a distance

On the descent from the Èze, the gap between the Jorgenson group and Lipowitz and Co. opened up to one minute. And so it went into the Col des Quatre Chemins. There, Sheffield was able to shake off Pedersen on the first few metres uphill. The Dane tried to catch Jorgenson behind him, but had to let this trio go as well.

Meanwhile, Lipowitz had to fend off another attack from Arensman. However, with the help of Vlasov, who then dropped back and stretched out in front of his compatriot, he succeeded. Gall also tried to put Jorgenson in his place on the uphill, but was unable to shake off the American. Gall, on the other hand, took full risk on the final kilometres of the descent to Nice and tried to challenge Sheffield for the stage win. But Sheffield, as a strong downhill rider, held his nerve and also his lead and was thus able to bring the day's victory home safely.