As it happened: Paris-Nice stage 7

Hello and welcome back to Cyclingnews' live coverage of Paris-Nice 2024 for stage 7!

We're just under 10 minutes away from the neutralised roll-out, with the race finally reaching Nice after six days of racing. 

A reminder that today's route has been modified due to adverse weather in the Alpes-Maritimes department, with snow and ice rendering the climbs supposed to feature today unsafe.

Instead of the Auron finish, stage 7 will now run 104km and finish up the Madone d'Utelle (15.1 km at 5.7%) climb after a relatively easy build-up to the climb.

Paris-Nice: Shorter stage, longer climb as snow forecast forces change to stage 7

Here's Brandon McNulty back in the yellow jersey after his strong performance on stage 6. He leads the overall race 23 seconds ahead of compatriot Matteo Jorgenson after the American pair lit up the finale of yesterday's stage.

'Just like in the juniors' - McNulty back in yellow after lighting up Paris-Nice with Jorgenson

Race Start

Stage 7 of Paris-Nice is underway! Riders are off from the start line in nice on a damp and grey day in Nice.

Here's the jersey wearers on stage 7 of Paris-Nice:
Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) in the leader's yellow jersey
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) in the green points jersey
Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the best young rider's white jersey
Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) in the King of the Mountains jersey 

There are only two climbs on the menu for stage 7 with the changes being made, but organisers did ensure this would remain a day for the GC men.

90km to go - Côte de Gattières (4.6 km at 4.7%)
15km to go - La Madone d'Utelle (15.1 km at 5.7%)

If you missed out yesterday, make sure you catch up with our full race report from a thrilling sixth stage at Paris-Nice.

Paris-Nice: Mattias Skjelmose takes stage 6 victory as McNulty returns to race lead

Here's Remco Evenepoel from today's start. He said he made a tactical mistake in the final stages of yesterday's race despite having good form. Can he make up his 1:03 deficit to McNulty on today's stage?

104KM TO GO

Official start taken and racing is underway on stage 7 of Paris-Nice!

With no more chances for the sprinters, here's the list of today's non-starters:
- Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels)
- Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla)
- Pascal Ackermann and Rick Zabel (Israel-Premier Tech)  
- Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty) 

100KM TO GO

The race is heading north away from the coast for today's stage. The first climb is starting soon and should give a breakaway a chance to get up the road. If not, then it will all come down to a GC battle on the mountain finish.

Three riders have started the attacks out of the peloton: Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), Johan Jacobs (Movistar) and Martijn Tusveld (DSM-Firmenich PostNL). They will hit the category 2 climb first with a narrow 10-second advantage. 

Here's the three men braving the cold and rain at the start of stage 7. There are three riders in pursuit - Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies), Brent Van Moer (Lotto Dstny), Gijs Leemreize (DSM) - who are 1:05 behind with the peloton a further 45 seconds back. 

The categorised portion of the climb has been completed, but it's relatively uphill for the next 20km of racing. If the three men chasing can make it a group of six at the front of the race, they should be able to build a solid gap. 

Thomas swept up the maximum five KOM points but this won't threaten Burgaudeau's hold of the polka-dot mountains jersey. He leads that competition by ten points from Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan). 

90KM TO GO

Tusveld has suffered an untimely mechanical and been left behind by Thomas and Jacobs.

Full bike change for Tusveld out of the leading trio. Thankfully for him, he has Leemreize in the chasing second group on the road. They are two of DSM's three remaining riders at Paris-Nice after Fabio Jakobsen and most of his leadout train abandoned the race. 

It is looking pretty cold, wet and miserable out there - typical Paris-Nice March weather. 

Could today be the day for Matteo Jorgenson to take victory? The young American has impressed massively since joining Visma-Lease a Bike and was brilliant on the attack yesterday. He sits second overall behind McNulty.

Matteo Jorgenson 'in the position I wanted to be in' chasing Paris-Nice win

With his two DSM-Firmenich PostNL teammates successfully up the road in the break, Timo Roosen has also abandoned the race. 

80KM TO GO

Evenepoel wrapped up and ready for the rain.

A mechanical for Dujardin dropped him back into the peloton and Van Moer and Tusveld are also back in. Only Leemreize is still in pursuit of Thomas and Jacobs now. 

Ineos Grenadiers are once again working on the front to keep the gap tight, it currently sits at 1:10.

70KM TO GO

The race is heading west for the next few kilometres before turning back on itself and heading towards the final climb which will decide the day. 

Leemreize's time in front is also over. Just Thomas and Jacobs remain in the break, 1:20 ahead of the chasing peloton.

Not much you can do in the break if Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) are part of the peloton working to chase you down. 

Average speed for today is just under 40km/h on a cold and wet stage so far.

60KM TO GO

Soudal-QuickStep and Visma-Lease a Bike have taken over control at the front of the peloton from Ineos as the peloton navigated a slightly treacherous wet section of descending. 

Conditions are very tough out there with riders such as Finn Fisher-Black even dropping out the back. He could be very important for race leader McNulty come the final climb, so will want to get back into the peloton without expending too much energy. 

50KM TO GO

Here's another look at the two riders braving the conditions in the day's breakaway - Benjamin Thomas and Johan Jacobs.

Harold Tejada has stopped for a front wheel puncture and change. He started the day in ninth after a very strong opening six days of racing and will want to be back in the peloton quickly to contest the finale. 

Soudal-QuickStep in full formation for Remco Evenepoel at the front of the peloton. Conditions seem to only be getting worse out on the road. 

Yves Lampaert is leading the chase on the front for now with the gap down to 40 seconds from the breakaway. 

40KM TO GO

Tejada has two teammates around him but is still a minute down on the peloton and has some work to do to get through the convoy. 

Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) is out the back of the peloton in a small chasing group. He'll be a big miss for Egan Bernal come the final. 

Here's a look at the final climb of the day - La Madone d'Utelle - which we are just under 25km from the foot of now. The steepest kilometres average close to 7% and will be the best chance to attack.

Thomas has dropped and it's now only Jacobs at the head of the race. The peloton is just 30 seconds behind but this ride should grant the Swiss man the combativity prize and a trip to the podium at the end of the stage. 

There's a few kilometres of descending on the still picturesque Alpes-Maritimes roads, with difficult wet roads to navigate for Jacobs in front and the peloton behind.  

30KM TO GO

Lampaert and Evenepoel are closely sticking together at the front of the peloton. Riders still hitting 70km/h even on the wet downhill roads, Lampaert looking brilliant. 

Still full gas at the front of the peloton despite the conditions. QuickStep and Visma working very hard on the front with splits looking possible behind. 

Just as I typed that, there is a split in the peloton - who has missed out? 

There's riders from Bora, Ineos and UAE in the second group on the road, but the rain jackets are making identification slightly harder. 

It seems to have calmed down with riders going back to the cars including Evenepoel himself for final drinks and nature breaks. It's all about the final climb now. 

20KM TO GO

UAE Team Emirates have moved to the front of the peloton with the race leader Brandon McNulty sat in the train. 

Jacobs has 4km until he hits the foot of the final climb with a 33 seconds gap to the peloton now. 

They have paced for most of today's 104km stage, but will Soudal-QuickStep take up the mantle of setting the pace on the final climb? Remember Evenepoel started the day 1:03 down on McNulty in the lead, so he needs to take time back if he is to score overall victory after tomorrow. 

It's a drag race to the foot of the climb with Pedersen sprinting on the front to put Skjelmose into prime position. The race is ready to explode into life!

We're seeing a view of miserable conditions at the finish line. This is going to be a tough 15km slog in rough conditions. 

15KM TO GO

Jay Vine has dropped already which isn't good news for McNulty and UAE Team Emirates. 

Jacobs is just 15 seconds in front with the pace significantly picked up behind now. 

Soudal-QuickStep accelerate for Evenepoel with Jacobs now caught and the real racing starting now. It's thinning out already in the bunch. 

All the big guns are there with Jorgenson sat closest behind Evenepoel. McNulty is just behind his compatriot with a teammate and Roglic, Skjelmose and Buitrago are also sat waiting for the attacks to fly. 

Cattaneo has already dropped from his teammates' infernal pace, with Vervaeke on the front now. Van Wilder will be the last man in front of Evenepoel before he inevitably makes his big strike. 

We're around 5km from the important intermediate sprint at Utelle where bonus seconds will be eagerly fought by those chasing the GC lead. 

The lead group has stabilised somewhat with Vervaeke still on the front. Expect more to drop when Van Wilder takes over on this wonderful section of hairpins up the Madone d'Utelle. 

10KM TO GO

Here's what the majority of the climb has looked like in the first 5km with Evenepoel sat in the wings and following his two remaining teammates. 

Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) is sat in his favourite place of a leading group - the back. Don't be surprised if he appears from nowhere later in the climb.

With Vervaeke's pull done, Ineos have taken over with Laurens De Plus working for Egan Bernal. Evenepoel has been shuffled back to fifth wheel with Buitrago also looking dangerous. 

It's still De Plus setting the pace with the intermediate sprint and bonus seconds approaching. 

300 metres until the sprint now with no one going for it yet. 

Bernal goes for it with Van Wilder and Evenepoel chasing. It's six seconds gained for the Colombian with Van Wilder taking four, unable to close him before the line and Evenepoel only getting two. 

Steff Cras (TotalEnergies) and Almeida dropped out the back.

Van Wilder has taken over again at the front of the peloton with De Plus done for the day. Großshcartner is waiting behind for Almeida. 

5KM TO GO

We're 9 kilometres into the climb and the front group remains slightly in tact with most of the team leaders still present. Evenepoel is sat in third wheel with Bernal between him and his teammate. 

Here's a look back at the moment Bernal and De Plus moved to the lead ahead of the intermediate sprint. 

Remco Evenepoel attacks! He's made his move and decided now is the moment. He's got Jorgenson and McNulty on his wheel with Skjelmose closing down behind with the rest of the GC favourites. 

Evenepoel stops after no separation was found. Vlasov counter attacks for Bora-Hansgrohe and he's allowed some advantage starting the day 2:42 off the lead. 

Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) has dropped out the back which is surprising. 

3KM TO GO

Vlasov has around a 10-second advantage with Kelderman taking front position in the peloton for Jorgenson.

Bernal has started to struggle after looking so good at the intermediate sprint point - he's at the back of the 10-man chasing group. 

Evenepoel goes again as the road gets steeper once more. Kelderman is done and McNulty has started to struggle. 

Buitrago, Jorgenson, Roglic all looking good on Evenepoel's wheel, but McNulty and Skjelmose are just hovering behind and not making contact yet. 

Skjelmose leaves McNulty behind as the yellow jersey looks like he's tying up. It's now a group of five chasing down Vlasov. 

1KM TO GO

Vlasov hits the final kilometre alone but Evenepoel is leading a strong charge behind now just 12 seconds away from the Bora-Hansgrohe man. 

Vlasov still looks good with 13 seconds on the road and just 700 metres left to ride. Evenepoel is looking behind and unwilling to reel back in the lone leader. McNulty isn't giving up and he's coming back. 

Vlasov is going to make it as he enters the barriers section. 

Aleksandr Vlasov wins stage 7 of Paris-Nice for Bora-Hansgrohe!

Evenepoel takes the sprint and bonus seconds for second with Roglic close behind. McNulty limited the damage and should still have the leader's jersey but it will be very slim margins heading into the final day of racing tomorrow. 

Here's what Vlasov had to say after the victory, his first since June 2022:

"I'm really happy to win here. It's a WorldTour stage race and it's one of the most important races and especially these are my training zone and I know these roads. I'm super happy.

"I had a feeling to go today and 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 2 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."

And a look at the finish photo for today's winner - Aleksandr Vlasov.

Here's the top ten on stage 7 of Paris-Nice courtesy of FirstCycling

And the top ten after the seventh stage at Paris-Nice. McNulty leads by just four seconds from Jorgenson with Skjelmose, Evenpoel, Plapp and Roglič also in the mix.

The GC fight is brilliantly poised ahead of tomorrow's final stage at Paris-Nice which takes in the typically difficult Nice to Nice stage with six climbs along the way. If the conditions are anything close to what they were today, that will make things even tougher. Will McNulty be able to hold onto his narrow lead from Jorgenson?

Make sure to read the full stage report of today's stage:

Paris-Nice: Aleksandr Vlasov wins stage 7 as Brandon McNulty fights to remain in yellow

Here's McNulty still in yellow for one more day. But can he hold onto it tomorrow? Stage 8 at Paris-Nice is often one of the most exciting race days on the calendar, but McNulty will be hoping he can keep things calm and take overall victory. 

That wraps things up for our live coverage of Paris-Nice today, but make sure to check back in for news coming out of the race this evening. Also make sure to check out our coverage of Tirreno-Adriatico and come back tomorrow for live coverage, reports and news of Paris-Nice stage 8 tomorrow!