Shortened Queen Stage still in dramatic conditions: Riders finish in wintery scenes
Cycling
The weather conditions in Paris-Nice have been terrible over the past two days. In particular, the stage on Wednesday was criticized after the neutralization and restart due to hail, snow, and cold. But the queen stage on Saturday was also at risk. The concerns have become a reality: the ride to Auron has been shortened by 40 kilometers and will be much less challenging.
The organization explains why they were forced to shorten the seventh stage. "The weather conditions remain unfavorable for Saturday, particularly at higher altitudes," Paris-Nice said in a press statement. "To ensure the riders' safety, the decision to modify the route of Stage 7 has been made. The expected arrival in Auron remains unchanged, but safety conditions are not met to cross the Col de la Colmiane, its downhill specifically."
"Thus, the riders will leave the Côte de Belvédère and the Col de La Colmiane, initially planned, on their right after 55.8 km to continue through the Var Valley and then the Tinée Valley. They will rejoin the originally planned route shortly before Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée for the final 32.5 km of this stage. This 7th stage will be 109.3 kilometers long instead of 147,8 kilometers." By the way, the area around the finish in Auron will not be pleasant either: snow is expected there, with a temperature of 2 degrees Celsius and a wind chill of -11 degrees.
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Conditions on the final climb very unpredictable
Eliminating the Côte de Belvédère and the Col de la Colmiane has simplified the seventh stage considerably, as only two categorized cols are left on the program. The Côte d'Aspremont is on the program after 19.6 kilometers, and the stage will finish in Auron. So, there are no 2600 meters of climbing, but fortunately, the final stage to Nice is still on the program, with the infamous Col des Quatre Chemins right at the end.
On top of the final climb, it currently looks terrible. There is a thick layer of snow along the roads and on the roofs in Auron, a ski resort, as you can see all too well in the photo below. The Col de la Colmiane has been removed, but it looks miserable even here. The start is scheduled around noon CET time, but who knows what the organization has in store for us this morning...
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Latest Comments
- Such negative comments that are truly inappropriate and actually ridiculous. He sounds like an old man, bitter that he can't race anymore. Why can't he just be gracious? Or just shut up. Instead of howling for attention, in such a rude manner. Must be Dementia creeping in. We are all living in the Now. Records are there, and some are being broken, some are unapproachable. If he doesn't like it, and it makes him sick, maybe he ought start watching some other sport. Don't want the old mans health to be upset.
reemmo031-03-2025 - Roger De Vlaeminck inspires me to create a new beer: "Bitter Old Twat Belgian".JackInhof31-03-2025
- Shoot, I'll ride it for 1/10 of what his pay for that day is😅Veganpotter30-03-2025
- What is this? The Lance Armstrong daily cheaters channel? I could care less about Johan and Lance the seven times cheater. Greg Lemond was right all along, Why don't you write about that instead of these two knuckleheads.velodrone28-03-2025
- Are we all doomed to hear from Lance Armstrong and Johan bruneel until the end of time? It's not enough the stain they left on cycling? Do we have to see that shadow forever?bigyakman26-03-2025
- I am not sure if it is the hardest to win. In Flanders and Roubaix well before the finish the Peleton will be decimated and the race will normally be won by the best rider of the day or maybe 2nd or 3rd in case of a mechanical or unlucky break especially in case of Roubaix. In San Remo just before the finish there will still be several riders in contention and they are hard to ditch. For the best riders it is a race hard to win since it is not so selective. But if you are not a top 5 rider but still a top 10 rider this race is your best change to win. You will see more Milan San remo Winners with only 1 monument win than any other monumentsJoostmehrtens19-03-2025
- "fap fap fap oh Lance oh oh OHHHHHHH" again. Does he pay you to dredge up people with nice things to say about him? He was an giant a$$hole to people. It is a fact. Whatever his contrition about the doping, he is unapologetic about being a giant a$$hole to people. (Why yes, I do only login to complain. *I* am however only a giant a$$hole to people who laud giant a$$holes.)ericjensenridesbikes25-02-2025
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025 - If she thinks talent alone will put her there she will not see many podium finishes much less a GC finish.....work as a team utilizing tactics to consistently be at the top.Germanrazor10-01-2025