Tadej Pogacar won cycling's Paris-Nice on Sunday when his solo triumph on the Riviera town's iconic Promenade des Anglais propelled the UAE Emirates rider to a crushing overall victory on his first entry to the eight-day event.

Two-time former Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar came through the "first really difficult" day of his season to take full control of Paris-Nice on Saturday after winning the seventh stage.

Two-time former Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar climbed to the overall lead of Paris-Nice after winning Wednesday's fourth stage.

The Tour de France is the pinnacle of professional road cycling and a sport that is, at its core, a very European affair. For a rider to infiltrate cycling's elite ranks from nations outside Europe represents years of hard work, discipline and sacrifice, while often isolated from family and friends.

The Tour de France peloton has landed in Copenhagen and is ready for Friday's grand depart. The past several years have been dominated by the young guns, chief among them is 23 year old defending champion and top favorite Tadej Pogačar.

David Gaudu snatched victory ahead of Wout van Aert who took the race lead after the third stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Tuesday at the ski resort of Chastreix-Sancy.

The Critérium du Dauphiné is the ultimate test for the star riders heading to the Tour de France, but the race is also known to reveal surprising underdogs for the summer of racing in France.

Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar won his first one-day classic on Sunday, snatching Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory on the line ahead of world champion Julian Alaphilippe who described the Slovenian as "a phenomenon".

The cycling season gets serious Sunday as the eight-day mini-tour Paris-Nice gets underway featuring World No.1 Primoz Roglic and sub-plots galore.