Paris-Nice: Roglic triumphs atop the Col de Turini

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Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) stamped his authority on Paris-Nice responding to attacks and then sprinting to victory at the mountain summit of Col de Turini to increase his overall lead.

Taking his first win of the season the Slovenian rarely looked in trouble on the finishing climb before landing a decisive blow and increasing his overall lead. 

Daniel Felipe Martínez (Ineos Grenadiers) had tried to test the La Vuelta España winner on the final climb along with Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange – Jayco) but were helpless to the final burst of speed for the sprint finish with Martinez taking second and Yates third. 

Roglič leads by 47 seconds going into the final Paris-Nice stage ahead of Yates with Martínez sitting one minute behind. 

"I had the legs today so it was a great day," said Roglič.

"You put a lot of sacrifice and training into it, it's not out of nothing. So when you can finish it off and have the possibility to be the best is something great."

Roglič leads by 47 seconds going into the final Paris-Nice stage ahead of Yates with Martínez sitting one minute behind.

The final stage has five categories climbs before a downhill run to the finish in Nice.

"We saw last year that tomorrow will be a super demanding one," added Roglič.

Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) was the day's big loser despite attacking first on Col de Turini before getting dropped and losing time to his overall rivals. 

Taking matters into his own hands Roglič put in a blistering attack with six kilometres and just Martínez was able to follow. 

Simon Yates moved across to the chasers putting brother Adam under pressure as Quintana joined him in the chase. 

In a battle between two pairings, Roglič and Martinez were drawn back by Simon Yates followed by Quintana with just under three kilometres remaining. 

After closing the gap to the leaders Yates attacked twice with just over one kilometre remaining but Roglič and Martinez were equal to his attack. 

Inside the last 200 metres, Roglič attacked in the drops and was a clear winner ahead of Martinez and Yates increasing his overall lead.

How it unfolded

With a mountain top finish on the Col de Turini stage 7 of Paris-Nice was always going to be a decisive one ahead of the final stage into Nice.

At 15.2 kilometres in length the Col de Turini has an average gradient of 7.2% but with sections of 8.7% towards the summit.

Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) held the lead coming into the only summit finish of the race sitting 39 seconds ahead of Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange – Jayco) while Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) sat a further four seconds back.

Kevin Geniets (Groupama – FDJ) abandoned early in the stage after a sponsorship board blew over knocking him off his bike before the start in Nice.

Roglič was also dealt an early blow losing team-mate Mike Teunissen inside the opening kilometres of the 155-kilometre stage as the Dutch rider prepares for Milan-Sanremo next weekend.

In a tactical move, Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) attempted to get into an early 18-man move that escaped out of the neutralised zone.

The bunch were aware of the danger of allowing Van Aert to escape but once he was brought back the breakaway was allowed to escape.

Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels – KTM) was the best-placed overall in the breakaway at five minutes and 17 seconds.

Former world champion and stage three winner Mads Pedersen (Trek – Segafredo) had also made the breakaway along with David Gaudu (Groupama – FDJ) and Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal).

With 40 kilometres raced in the opening hour the breakaway was kept at just one minute on the approach to the Côte de Coursegoules.

As the breakaway extended their gap to around two minutes Pedersen picked up the intermediate sprints points after 57 kilometres reducing Van Aert's lead to 12 points in the competition.

With 50 kilometres remaining the peloton remained in control of the large breakaway sitting just 1-20 behind with INEOS Grenadiers setting the pace for Adam Yates.

Team Arkéa Samsic were also keen on pushing the pace and keeping Jumbo-Visma under pressure for their leader Nairo Quintana.

The only other time Paris-Nice had finished on Col de Turini was in 2019 when Ineos Grenadiers rider Daniel Felipe Martínez won the stage.

On the uphill approach to the final climb, the breakaway kept their one-minute advantage but continued to reduce with Pederson one of those dropped.

At the start of the 15-kilometre finishing Col de Turini climb the breakaway had an advantage of 50 seconds but fragmented further on the lower slopes.

Roglič was quickly left exposed on the finishing climb with just team-mates Rohan Dennis and Steven Kruijswijk remaining in the leading group.

Just three men remained from the breakaway with 11 kilometres remaining including Quentin Pacher (Groupama – FDJ), Gregor Mühlberger (Movistar Team) and Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels – KTM).

Mühlberger then attacked alone leaving his breakaway companions but only having an advantage of 38 seconds on the bunch.

Australian rider Dennis continued to push the pace working for Roglič as the peloton reduced in numbers on the finishing climb.

Adam Yates was the first rider to make his move for glory with seven kilometres remaining launching his attack with Roglič, Martínez and Quintana responding.

Taking matters into his own hands Roglič put in a blistering attack a kilometre later and just Martínez was able to follow as they caught and passed Mühlberger.

Simon Yates was more composed in a bid to keep his second place overall and moved across to the chasers and was followed by Quintana as Adam Yates faded away.

In a battle between two pairings, Roglič and Martinez were pegged back by Simon Yates followed by Quintana with three kilometres remaining.

The quartet traded blows for reached the final kilometre together with João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) also bridging across before the charge to the finish.

Roglič had kept enough in reserve for a final sprint on the drops inside the last 200 metres riding clear of Martinez in second and Yates third.