Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA – hansgrohe) won the penultimate stage of Paris-Nice 2024. The Russian won the seventh stage between Nice and La Madone d’Utelle after 104 kilometers. American Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) defended the lead of the French race.
Vlasov was the strongest in the mountain finish at La Madone d’Utelle (15.1 km at 5.7 percent) and rounded off his great performance by taking the win. Second came Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step). Santiago Buutrago (Bahrain – Victorious) was the best Colombian in 6th place. While Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) came in 11th.
“It’s a WorldTour stage race, one of the most important. What makes it more special is that it’s in my training zone. I know these roads. I’m very happy to win,” Vlasov said in a post-race interview.
After Ilnur Zakarin won here a few years ago in the most recent use of the climb, his Russian compatriot Vlasov triumphed this time: “I knew I won then. It’s funny that he wins here now too. It’s our mountain of happiness.”
It was a victory of great legs and tactics. After intense work by Soudal Quick-Step, Remco Evenepoel attacked with just over 4 kilometers to go. When the pace stalled, Vlasov dropped off the lead. Tactically it was the right move, as Primoz Roglic could follow on his wheel, but it turned out that Vlasov himself ended up being the strongest of the day. Alone, he held off the onslaught of Visma and Remco Evenepoel, who went inside to distance Brandon McNulty.
Vlasov had worked for Roglic earlier in the week and lost time: “That gave me some freedom to choose to attack,” he said. The 27-year-old didn’t expect to have such good legs that day: “The plan was to see how it went. Either we would sprint with Primoz, or I would follow some attacks. But I found a good moment and decided to go, because there was room. I just went.”
The riders faced brutal weather conditions, as he recounts, “It was raining and cold. I almost froze in the last two kilometers. My arms in particular were very cold. Luckily I was dressed well, so it wasn’t too bad.”
“The course was also quite tricky. The final day of racing won’t be much different, as cold conditions and rain overnight will make the roads precarious. Vlasov will go into the final day of racing in 10th position, 2:05 minutes behind leader Brandon McNulty.
The breakaway of the day was led by Frenchman Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) and Swiss Johan Jacobs (Movistar Team), but before entering the most demanding part of the final climb both were caught by the group of favorites.
Zipaquireño climber Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), who had an outstanding performance, gained six seconds in an uphill sprint 7 kilometers from the finish and finished in 11th place 1:01 behind the winner.
Results Stage 7 | Nice – La Madone d’Utelle (104 km)
| 1 | Aleksandr Vlasov | BORA – hansgrohe | 2:44:03 |
| 2 | Remco Evenepoel | Soudal Quick-Step | 0:08 |
| 3 | Primož Roglič | BORA – hansgrohe | ,, |
| 4 | Mattias Skjelmose | Lidl – Trek | ,, |
| 5 | Matteo Jorgenson | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | ,, |
| 6 | Santiago Buitrago | Bahrain – Victorious | 0:13 |
| 7 | Brandon McNulty | UAE Team Emirates | 0:27 |
| 8 | Wilco Kelderman | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 0:31 |
| 9 | Aurélien Paret-Peintre | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | 0:36 |
| 10 | Luke Plapp | Team Jayco AlUla | 0:40 |
Ranking General
| 1 | Brandon McNulty | UAE Team Emirates | 25:00:28 |
| 2 | Matteo Jorgenson | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 0:04 |
| 3 | Mattias Skjelmose | Lidl – Trek | 0:35 |
| 4 | Remco Evenepoel | Soudal Quick-Step | 0:36 |
| 5 | Luke Plapp | Team Jayco AlUla | 0:47 |
| 6 | Primož Roglič | BORA – hansgrohe | 1:21 |
| 7 | Egan Bernal | INEOS Grenadiers | 1:42 |
| 8 | Wilco Kelderman | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 1:43 |
| 9 | Aurélien Paret-Peintre | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | 1:53 |
| 10 | Aleksandr Vlasov | BORA – hansgrohe | 2:05 |
Fuente: www.ciclismoaldia.es y Revista Mundo Ciclístico