'It's no secret the team has been struggling' - Lamperti gets EF off the mark at Paris-Nice

Lamperti delivered a powerful sprint in Carrières-sous-Poissy to give EF their first win of the new season, and it was also the American’s first triumph in their colours since joining from Soudal Quick-Step in the winter.

“It’s super special,” Lamperti said. “I think it’s no secret the team has been struggling and had a rough start to the year, but you always know it will come, because it’s still early. 

“To get a victory here is super nice. The team rode full all day, we committed and it paid off. We’ve been knocking on the door, but to actually get the job done is super special. It’s also my first victory with the team and a nice way to start with the new team.”

In the opening weeks of the season, EF EasyPost-Education CEO Jonathan Vaughters announced that his organisation was looking for an additional title sponsor in order to augment its budget with the aim of winning both the men’s and women’s Tours de France within the next decade.

Lamperti had teammate Max Walker in the break of the day, but the opening stage of Paris-Nice was always likely to come down to a bunch finish, and he was well marshalled by Kasper Asgreen in the finale before Merijn van den Berg delivered a long, long lead-out in the finishing straight. 

“The climb was quite hard, but we had Max in the break, so we had a few cards to play,” Lamperti said. “If the break made it, then it was also ok for us, but it came back for a sprint and in the end, it was a beautiful day.

“It was super hectic. Merijn van den Berg was the last guy, and we started quite early. He went from far, but he was super strong and he did maybe 350m himself to deliver me just to the last 200m, so in the end I just had to do the final few metres on my own.”

Lamperti began his time at Soudal Quick-Step with a bang two years ago, leading out fellow neo-pro Paul Magnier to victory in their very first race at the Trofeo Ses Salines. But while Magnier would go on to establish himself as the future of the team’s Classics ambitions, Lamperti was limited to two stage wins at the Czech Tour during his two-year tenure.

The move to EF marks a new chapter in Lamperti’s career. “Of course it’s different, but it’s been really nice,” said Lamperti, who showed his early-season form when he won the bunch sprint for third place on the opening stage of the Tour de Provence. Last weekend, the American picked up top 10 finishes at both Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, and he arrived at Paris-Nice believing that a win was within his range.

“I know I’ve been going well but to get a win and get the momentum rolling is really important for a sprinter,” Lamperti said. “It’s the biggest win I’ve had in my career. It will be great for the rest of the season and before the Classics.”