Soudal Quick-Step duo animate the penultimate stage.
It was another hard day in the saddle at Paris-Nice, one that took the peloton from the Promenade des Anglais to the top of Col de la Couillole, the highest finish in the history of the race. The first-category climb made a return after six years, the previous time it was visited by the bunch, our very own Julian Alaphilippe leading the general classification, resplendent in the iconic yellow jersey.
This time, Soudal Quick-Step was represented there by the last two French Champion, Rémi Cavagna and Florian Sénéchal, who were among the early attackers that managed to open a maximum gap of three minutes between them and the peloton. The duo brought their contribution in the group until the first slopes of the 15.7km Col de la Couillole, where a reduced bunch consisting mainly of the GC favourites brought them back.
In the end, it was Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) who came out on top victorious, while Yves Lampaert was our first man home with one day to go at Paris-Nice, the now traditional stage around Nice, which will see the riders take on five ranked ascents, including Col d’Èze.
Photo credit: ©Alex Broadway / Getty Images
