Cyclist6 talking points from Paris-Nice and Tirreno-AdriaticoAnd breathe. One of cyclings most hectic weeks is now in the rearview mirror, with concurrent chaos of Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico giving us early previews of potential Grand Tour battles to come.Jonas Vingegaard topped the standings at Paris-Nice in dominant fashion while Isaac del Toro continued his ascent to cyclings top tier with victory at Tirreno-Adriatico. Theres plenty to talk about, here are our six main takeaways from the two races.Paris-Nice1st: Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), 25hr 25min 11sec2nd: Dani Martnez (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), +4min 23sec3rd: Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost), +6min 07secJonas Vingegaard is on topA.S.O./Billy CeustersDespite his early season being sligghtly hampered by an illness and a very public training crash, Jonas Vingegaard showed hes still a rider to be feared after a dominating display in his first stage race of the year. He claimed back-to-back stage victories, going clear from a group of three on the final climb of Stage 4 after a crazy weather-dominated stage decimated the field, and attacking solo from 20km to go on Stage 5, to secure his first Paris-Nice title.His closest competitor overall would be Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohes Dani Martnez, who finished over four minutes down, but benefited the most from the chaos on Stage 4, with his team putting the pressure on with only Vingegaard capable of sticking with him. Thats despite going into his teammates back wheel and crashing on the final stage, leaving him in quite some pain after the finish line.Its shaping up well for the Dane as he heads towards his debut at the Giro dItalia, where he could become the latest man to win all three Grand Tours.Decathlon-CMA CGM looked good, then not so good (but actually not that bad) in the TTTA.S.O./Billy CeustersDecathlon-CMA CGM have really stepped things up this year, with sprint wins, several strong GC performances and the development of Paul Seixas. It looked like they were on for a great TT performance too in the team time-trial on Stage 3. That was until GC leader Nicolas Prodhomme dropped on a slight climb and Dan Hoole was left to go solo in search of the yellow jersey.Thankfully the Paris-Nice time-trial rules dictate that its the first rider over the line that sets the teams time, so actually Decathlon finished third on the day behind Ineos Grenadiers and Lidl-Trek not that bad. However it was a very strong performance by the squad that couldve won the stage and set Prodhomme off well in the GC had hed not dropped off. Hoole looked very strong before he had to leave the race after breaking his pinky in a crash the following day.Juan Ayuso avoids injuryA.S.O./Billy CeustersLidl-Treks Juan Ayuso arrived at Paris-Nice having won the Volta ao Algarve and was looking to do battle with Vingegaard. He claimed some important bonus seconds on the flattest stage of the race, and jumped into the lead after the team-time trial. However as Red Bull lit up the race in the rain and wind on Stage 4, Ayuso crashed hard. He tried to get back on the bike but was in too much pain to ride, instead having to lie down at the side of the road. Fortunately, scans later that evening would show no serious injuries and that the 23-year-old avoided fractures. His next race is scheduled to be Itzulia Basque Country, recovery permitting.Other notable points:EF Education-EasyPost notch first win of seasonFollowing Luke Lampertis sprint win on the opening day, Picnic-PostNL is now the only mens WorldTour squad to not have a victory yet in 2026.Valentin Paret-Peintre heads to the foreThe Soudal-QuickStep rider was enjoying his freedom at Paris-Nice. He finished second to Vingegaard on Stage 5 as well as in the mountains classification, and ended as best-placed finisher for his team in 12th overall. Related Posts Can Ineos Grenadiers return to superteam status? Paul Seixas, the weight of French expectations and the fight for his signature Are Decathlon-CMA CGM cycling's new superteam in waiting? Tirreno-Adriatico1st: Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG), 28hr 02min 14sec2nd: Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike), +40sec3rd: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +42secIsaac del Toro vs Giulio PellizzariLaPresse/MirrormediaThe youngsters came out to play at Tirreno-Adriatico, with 22-year-olds Isaac del Toro of UAE Team Emirates XRG and Giulio Pellizzari of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe the star men in this GC battle. Del Toro led the race after finished second behind Mathieu van der Poel on the punchy finish to Stage 2, while Pellizzari moved into second after crossing the line just behind him.Stage 4 that shook things up a bit. The 213km day saw a group of big names contesting the finishing sprint after a day of climbing. Van der Poel again prevailed with relative ease in the sprint but it was Pellizzari finishing second this time, nabbing important bonus seconds while Del Toro crossed the line in tenth place relinquishing the jersey to the Italian.That would only be for one day as it turned out though. Del Toro rode away from the favourites on the final climb on Stage 5, finishing second to the last man standing from the breakaway, EFs Michael Valgren (a fantastic story in itself). The time gap to Pellizzari was half a minute, and combined with bonus seconds, meant he jumped back into the lead by a comfortable margin.Visma-Lease a Bikes Matteo Jorgenson would grab some important bonus seconds on the last day to leapfrog Pellizzari in the standings by just two seconds.But while Pellizzari was knocked down one spot, the scenes of him riding around his birthplace of San Severino Marche to start Stage 6 and finishing in his hometown of Camerino were something to behold, scores of spectators cheering for him with his name scrawled repeatedly in the road. Del Toro won the day and admitted to some mixed feelings to TNT Sports after beating his friend in his hometown.Del Toro and Pellizzari have been racing each other for a few years now, taking part in many of the same U23 races as they were coming up even finishing first and second at the Tour de lAvenir in 2023. Were very excited for their battles to come.Tensions flare between Movistar and Visma-Lease a BikeSprint CyclingThings got a bit heated after Stage 6, a day that saw Movistars Javier Romo hit the ground. Post-stage, Romo allegedly grabbed Matteo Jorgenson by the neck at the Visma-Lease a Bike team bus, upset by a move from Jorgenson in the race that was not captured by the motorbike cameras.According toHet Laatste Nieuws, after being threatened by Romo, who had to be stopped by DS Max Sciandri, Jorgenson shouted adios as he got back into the bus.How very Chris Froome and Vincenzo Nibali circa summer 2015.Whats going on with Wout van Aert?Visma-Lease a BikeOver the past two seasons, Wout van Aert hasnt been at his best. Ever since his crash at the Vuelta a Espaa in 2024, the Belgian who signed a lifetime deal with Visma-Lease a Bike has felt like a shadow of his former self. I say almost, because that Tour de France Montmartre attack was quite the spectacle.Van Aert has not won a Monument since 2020 or any Classic since 2024. His 2026 season was delayed after fracturing his ankle in a cyclocross race, so Tirreno-Adriatico marked his first stage race of 2026. Teammate Jorgenson did a lot of work for the leading group on Stage 5, which was to be decided by a reduced group. Visma wouldve been licking their lips for the sprint with Van Aert in the group, however he could only cross the line in fifth, swamped by Van der Poel and Pellizzari as well as Tobias Halland Johannessen from Uno X Mobility and XDS-Astanas Clment Champoussin. He tried to a late break for it the following day too but couldnt go clear. Individual success might be lacking, but his strong leadout in setting up Jorgenson for the intermediate sprint on Stage 7 boosted his teammate up the rankings into second. His next race will be Milan-San Remo. Can he turn things around at the one Monument hes previously won?Other notable points:Filippo Ganna is king of the Tirreno-Adriatico prologueThe Italian has won the Tirreno opener in 2022, 2023, 2025 and now 2026 after beating teammate Thymen Arensman over 11.5km, only defeated in 2024 by Juan Ayuso by just one second.The relentless Julian AlaphilippeIts always good seeing Julian Alaphilippe stick his head out at the front of a cycling race. Tudor Pro Cyclings man looked rejuvenated throughout Tirreno-Adriatico, throwing himself into a breakaway with stage winner Valgren on Stage 5 and lighting up Italy with that trademark panache. The post 6 talking points from Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico appeared first on Cyclist.