Favorites stage 7 Paris-Nice 2024 | Bombastic mountain stage of 100 kilometers ahead!

The stage will start in Nice, which will also be the finish location of the Race to the Sun on Sunday. This edition, however, features little sun but rather snow. Consequently, the A.S.O. had to consider the possibilities, as it quickly became apparent that it was impossible to ride up and especially descend the Colmiane. Additionally, the final climb to Auron was covered in snow.

In the end, they managed to draw out a 104.0-kilometer ride, finishing at the Madone d'Utelle. This climb is fifteen kilometers long with an average gradient of 5.7 percent. It never gets really steep, but combined with the weather conditions and the layers that the riders have already shed, it looks like this will be a challenging day.

In 2016, Paris-Nice also finished on this climb. At that time, Ilnur Zakarin managed to win the race, ahead of Geraint Thomas and Alberto Contador.

Climbs
10.1 km: Cote de Gattieres (4.5 km at 4.8%)
104.0 km: Madon d'Utelle (15.1 km at 5.7%)

Times
Start: 10:35 AM
Finish 3:08 PM

The finish may have been moved, but it still won't be truly pleasant. The temperature at the top of the Madone d'Utelle is expected to be 6 degrees Celsius, and the chance of precipitation increases as the day progresses. Fortunately, the wind is moderate.

Just one hundred kilometers long, easy to control, and many riders aiming for (stage) success: it would be very unusual if the seventh stage of Paris-Nice does not turn into a battle among the greats. Brandon McNulty of UAE-Team Emirates currently holds the leader's jersey, but he knows that there are ten men hot on his heels for that coveted item. Jay Vine and Joao Almeida can support him, although with the Emirates team, it is always uncertain how things will unfold.

Initially, we look towards Remco Evenepoel of Soudal Quick-Step, who has not yet had luck on his side during this race. Along with Primoz Roglic of BORA-hansgrohe, he was viewed as the top favorite, but for now, the two mainly keep each other in a tight grip. Meanwhile, others, such as Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), have already managed to capitalize on this to achieve stage success.

Matteo Jorgenson of Visma | Lease a Bike showed himself to be remarkably strong in the final phase on Friday, thereby possibly maneuvering himself into the position of top favorite. He was significantly better uphill than his compatriot McNulty, while stage winner Skjelmose also generously admitted that Jorgenson was the best of all. Wilco Kelderman is also still competing for the prizes on behalf of the Dutch team.

Others to note include the well-performing Decathlon AG2R duo Felix Gall and Aurélien Paret-Peintre, the blossoming Egan Bernal of INEOS Grenadiers and his somewhat disappointing teammate Carlos Rodríguez, Astana's surprise Harold Tejada, and finally, Jayco AlUla's Luke Plapp. In the scenario of a breakaway, which we do not consider very realistic, we think of riders like Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar), Cofidis cyclist Ion Izagirre.

Top favorites: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Outsiders: Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), Primoz Roglic (BORA-hansgrohe), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R)
Long shots: Brandon McNulty, Jay Vine, Joao Almeida (UAE-Team Emirates), Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers), Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla), Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R), Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan Team) and Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike)