Vlasov takes Stage 7 of Paris-Nice from Evenepoel, McNulty retains race lead

Paris-Nice had not gone according to script for Bora–Hansgrohe but Aleksandr Vlasov gave them something to cheer with victory on Stage 7.

Primoz Roglic arrived on the start line as one of the pre-race favourites, but he has bigger aims later in the season and his team-mate Vlasov shone bright on a gloomy day to take his team’s first stage win in this year’s edition.

Vlasov went away with over two kilometres to run and held off an elite chasing pack.

The yellow jersey remained on the shoulders of Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) but his lead was trimmed from 23 seconds to four over Matteo Jorgenson (Visma–Lease a Bike).

Event organisers changed the route of the stage on account of the fear of snow at Auron.

The finish was moved south to Madone d’Utelle and although there was no snow, pouring rain in cold conditions tested the resolve of the riders.

Remco Evenepoel put his Soudal-QuickStep team to work heading into the final climb, as McNulty was forced to work hard to remain in the wheels.

Evevnepoel made his bid with four kilometres to go and he took Jorgensen, Vlasov, Mattias Skjelmose and Roglic with him.

Vlasov jumped clear and being well down on GC, he was allowed freedom to go for the stage win.

“I had a feeling to go today,” Vlasov said. “The plan was to see how the final climb was, always sprint with Primoz or maybe I follow some attacks but I found a moment and decided that I could go and I just went.

“It was tough conditions with the rain and cold. I think the last two kilometres I was really freezing, my arms were very cold. Also in the beginning luckily I was well dressed so it wasn’t so cold for me. The rain and the parcours was pretty tricky.”

Evenepoel had eyes on the yellow jersey, and he took second place and the time bonus with it.

McNulty finished alone, but did enough to retain his overall lead by four seconds – with Skjelmose and Evenepoel at 35 and 36 seconds adrift respectively.

Roglic sits sixth, 1:21 back.

Paris-Nice concludes on Sunday in Nice with a hilly day involving 2,350 metres of climbing.